SM-6 engages surface target
Raytheon successfully conducted a flight test of its Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) in which the missile engaged a surface target - the decommissioned USS Reuben James (FFG 57) - it was announced on 7 March.
The test was undertaken as part of demonstration work for the US Navy’s concept of ‘distributed lethality’, with ships employed in dispersed formations to increase the offensive might of the surface force and enable future options for the joint force commander.
The USS John Paul Jones fired the SM-6 and an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer on station acted as the assist ship. According to Raytheon, the mission validated that the legacy Anti-Surface Warfare (ASUW) capability of the Standard Missile-2 family of missiles and the MK7 Aegis Weapon System (AWS) has successfully carried over to SM-6 and the latest Aegis Destroyer baseline 9.
Taylor Lawrence, president, Raytheon Missile Systems, said: ‘This test event demonstrated Raytheon’s decades of continued technological development and partnership with the US Navy. The ability to leverage the SM family and the legacy AWS in newly fielded systems brings additional warfighting capability to the US fleet.’
The SM-6 provides tri-mission capability (Anti-Air Warfare, Sea-Based Terminal and ASUW) for long-range sea-based terminal defence and fleet air defence. It incorporates the guidance control and signal processing capabilities of Raytheon’s advanced medium-range air-to-air missile. It uses both semi-active and active guidance modes and advanced fuzing techniques.
You may also like
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Suppliers await next step in Australia’s mine warfare transition]()
Suppliers await next step in Australia’s mine warfare transition
Australia’s mine countermeasure capability remains in flux as the Huon-class nears retirement, but accelerated investment in autonomous systems is opening a path for industry.
-
![Can the US Navy ask Indo-Pacific allies to do more while training with them less?]()
Can the US Navy ask Indo-Pacific allies to do more while training with them less?
As the Iran War draws US ships and marine corps units away from the Indo-Pacific, curtailed exercises and a temporary carrier gap are exposing tensions between Washington’s demand for more self-reliant allies and the joint training needed to realise that ambition.
-
![How could Rheinmetall’s GMF 140 fit with ongoing programmes in North America?]()
How could Rheinmetall’s GMF 140 fit with ongoing programmes in North America?
With Canada committed to its River-class replacement and the USN pursuing a lower-cost frigate, Rheinmetall will need to demonstrate where the GMF 140 can fill a capability gap in the North American fleet.
-
![Australian industry programme builds pipeline for Virginia-class sustainment]()
Australian industry programme builds pipeline for Virginia-class sustainment
Australian businesses can now bid to support Virginia-class submarine sustainment in Western Australia, as momentum around the Henderson Defence Precinct also builds.
-
![South Korea, Japan and Turkey vie for US shipbuilding access in future frigate contest]()
South Korea, Japan and Turkey vie for US shipbuilding access in future frigate contest
Washington’s search for a foreign-built frigate could hand South Korea, Japan and Turkey a larger prize than a double-hull order: a foothold inside the US shipbuilding industrial base.
