LOUISVILLE, Kentucky — May 11, 2026 : RTX announced that its Raytheon business has been awarded a contract by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to supply SeaRAM ship self-defense systems for the Royal Australian Navy’s future upgraded Mogami-class frigates under Australia’s SEA 3000 General Purpose Frigate program.
The SEA 3000 program is a major naval modernization initiative aimed at replacing Australia’s retiring Anzac-class frigates with 11 upgraded Mogami-class warships designed for multi-role maritime operations. The new vessels are intended to strengthen the Royal Australian Navy’s capabilities in undersea warfare, local air defense, and regional maritime security operations.
Under the agreement, Raytheon will deliver SeaRAM launchers, Blast Test Vehicles, and technical support services for the first three frigates currently under construction by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Nagasaki, Japan. The systems will support installation, integration, and testing activities during the ships’ construction phase.
The first three vessels will be built in Japan, while additional ships planned under the program are expected to be constructed at the Henderson Defence Precinct in Western Australia as part of Australia’s long-term naval expansion strategy.
SeaRAM Capability and System Integration
The SeaRAM system is designed to provide autonomous terminal defense against a wide range of airborne threats, including anti-ship cruise missiles, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles.
The system combines the sensor suite of the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System Block 1B — including search-and-track radar and electro-optical sensors — with an 11-cell launcher equipped with RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles. Unlike traditional gun-based close-in weapon systems, SeaRAM extends a ship’s defensive reach beyond short-range ballistic interception distances while maintaining the same shipboard footprint and power requirements as the Phalanx platform.
The RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile is a fire-and-forget interceptor that uses passive radio-frequency and infrared guidance to engage incoming threats at ranges of approximately nine kilometers.
Barbara Borgonovi, president of Naval Power at Raytheon, stated that the system would provide the Royal Australian Navy with an additional layer of terminal air and missile defense capability for its future surface combatants.
Australia Joins Global SeaRAM Operators
The acquisition marks Australia’s first procurement of the SeaRAM system, officially adding the country to the global community of Rolling Airframe Missile operators. RTX stated that the contract reflects continuing international demand for layered naval air and missile defense architectures amid expanding regional security requirements.
The upgraded Mogami-class frigates are being introduced as Tier 2 surface combatants within Australia’s broader maritime modernization plan. The vessels are designed with lower crew requirements than the Anzac-class frigates while maintaining advanced operational capabilities and interoperability with allied naval forces.
Production and Delivery Timeline
Manufacturing and related contract work will be carried out at Raytheon’s facility in Louisville, Kentucky. Deliveries of the SeaRAM systems are scheduled to begin in late 2028.
According to the current SEA 3000 production schedule, the first upgraded Mogami-class frigate is expected to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy by the end of 2029.
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