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The U.S. Navy plans to acquire 12 Standard Missile-3 Block IIA interceptors in its FY 2026 budget for integration into the Aegis Weapon System, enhancing defenses against intermediate-range ballistic missiles.

This initiative includes advancements in Aegis Baseline BMD 6.0 software and aims to improve capabilities against cruise and hypersonic threats, particularly in the Defense of Guam strategy. Additionally, the Navy intends to increase missile production capacity from 24 to 36 per year to address global deployment needs.