Raytheon Tests Weapons Link to Advance European Missile Shield

Raytheon Co. said it successfully tested an upgrade to its SM-3 ballistic missile interceptor to help pave the way for European navies to protect the region against long-range weapons from countries such as Iran.

The trial last week showed that a radar used by Dutch, German and Danish navies could provide target information to the interceptor, George Mavko, director of European missile defense at Raytheon, the world’s largest missile maker, said in an interview. “This is a first step to bring those ships into compatibility with the missile defense mission,” he said.

The U.S., as part of a wider effort to field a missile shield, is installing SM-3 interceptors on ships and has plans for land-based deployment of the weapon in Romania to give the capability to shoot down long-range missiles outside the atmosphere.

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