Raytheon, one of the primary U.S. defense contractors, has signed a $24.4 billion contract with the Pentagon to supply SM-6 missiles to the U.S. Navy amid dwindling ammunition stockpiles in the country.

Operativ Media reports that this was announced by the press service of the U.S. Department of Defense.

The initial term of the contract is set at five years, with an option to extend it for an additional two years. According to the Pentagon, the agreement will ensure a continuous and reliable supply of SM-6 missiles to the U.S. Navy.

The Department of Defense noted that the contract will facilitate the acceleration of production for these missiles, which are considered essential ammunition for conducting air and sea operations.

In mid-September, the Pentagon's Office of the Inspector General announced that an ammunition shortage had arisen in the U.S. due to the war with Iran.

Additionally, the U.S. Congressional Budget Office expressed concern over the decline in the country's stockpile of interceptor missiles. According to the office, the U.S. has used between half and two-thirds of its stockpile of this type of ammunition since June 2025.