The Pentagon's acquisition executive has approved the Standard Missile-3 Block IB for full production, paving the way for the Missile Defense Agency to advance its first proposal to negotiate a multiyear procurement contract. The decision also marks a turnaround for the Raytheon-built weapon, which has been bedeviled for years by engineering and performance difficulties. On Dec. 19, the Missile Defense Executive Board -- chaired by Pentagon acquisition executive Ellen Lord and MDA Director Lt. Gen. Sam Greaves -- met to...
