At new Raytheon plant, America's missiles come to life

Today, Raytheon, one of the world's largest military contractors, opened a brand-new missile production and test facility in Huntsville, Ala. Close by the U.S. Army's Redstone Arsenal, the facility will be used to product Standard Missile-3s and SM-6 interceptors for the militaries of the U.S. and its allies. This is the SM-3, which is designed to protect against short- to medium-range threat ballistic missiles.

The U.S. Navy will use Raytheon's Standard Missile-6 for extended range fleet protection.

Inside Raytheon's 70,000-square-foot missle integration and test facility in Huntsville, Ala., a partial missile assembly mock up sits at a workstation.

Looking through a common ring and cradle tool set at an assembly station in Raytheon's new missile integration and test facility in Huntsville, Ala.

Three of these lithium-battery-powered automatic guided vehicles are being used in Raytheon's new Huntsville, Ala., missile facility. The vehicles are used to move missile hardware workers' stations.

At Raytheon's new missile integration and test facility in Huntsville, Ala., jib cranes are used in processing SM-3 kinetic warheads.