Raytheon’s new missile contract from the Missile Defense Agency is expected to heavily engage its operations in Huntsville, bolstered by a recent $115 million expansion of its missile integration facility here.

The $745,387,095 contract is for the production and sustainment of Standard Missile-3 Block IIA interceptors to strengthen U.S. and allied readiness against evolving ballistic missile threats.

Raytheon has made significant investments to expand capacity and accelerate production of the standard missile family, the company said in making the announcement Monday.

“SM-3 Block IIA is a cornerstone of regional defense, giving the U.S. and allied partners greater reach, accuracy and confidence against evolving threats,” said Barbara Borgonovi, president of Naval Power at Raytheon. “We’ve made sustained investments in our production lines and processes, which are allowing us to increase capacity and deliver these critical munitions to our customers more quickly.”

The SM-3 IIA is a cooperatively developed program between Japanese industry and Raytheon. It features a larger rocket motor and an enhanced kinetic warhead from its predecessors, allowing it to engage threats faster and protect larger regions from short- to intermediate-range ballistic missile threats.

Under this contract, Raytheon will manufacture and assemble SM-3 Block IIA all-up rounds for the U.S. government and Japan Ministry of Defense Foreign Military Sales case requirements, according to the Department of Defense.

Raytheon said it is hiring to support this critical program. Opportunities are available for emerging talent, experienced professionals, and veterans.