The Missile Defense Agency has shelved plans for a block buy of Raytheon's Standard Missile-3 Block IB interceptor -- a potential $1.8 billion deal -- in an apparent change of course underscored by a procurement cut in fiscal year 2017 that slashes quantities well below the objective annual production rate. MDA's FY-17 budget request, which agency spokesman Rick Lehner in July told Inside Defense would include a multiyear procurement authority proposal for SM-3 Block IB, contains no such appeal. At...
