SM-6 Testing Displays Missile’s Range and Versatility

[F-22Raptor]

PACIFIC MISSILE RANGE FACILITY, Hawaii — The Navy successfully executed four flight tests of the surface-to-air Standard Missile-6 Block I (SM-6 Blk I) off the Hawaiian coast between April 6 and 13, according to an April 25 release from Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS).

These tests marked the next step toward the SM-6 Blk I’s achievement of Full Operational Capability. In addition, these are the first tests with the latest SM-6 Blk I software that includes air warfare, ballistic missile sea based terminal defense, and anti-surface warfare capabilities.

“I’m very proud of my team for the seamless planning and execution of these flight tests, which are the culmination of disciplined systems engineering efforts. These latest flight test successes demonstrate once again the versatile capability of SM-6 Blk I,” said Capt. Michael Ladner, major program manager for Surface Ship Weapons, PEO IWS. “With these successes, we’ve validated that the latest SM-6 Blk I tri-mission capable software is ready to be delivered to our Sailors.”

The SM-6 provides an over-the-horizon engagement capability when launched from an Aegis warship and uses the latest in hardware and software missile technology to provide needed capabilities against evolving air threats. The SM-6 program has completed development and achieved Initial Operational Capability in November 2013.

http://seapowermagazine.org/stories/20170426-sm6.html

 

[F-22Raptor]

PACIFIC MISSILE FIRING RANGE, Hawaii — After a complex series of U.S. Navy flight tests, the Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) is ready for its final stage of the acquisition process: full operational capability, the missile’s builder, Raytheon Co., said in an April 27 release.

Reaching full operational capability is a kind of graduation exercise that signifies the weapon’s sea worthiness, with no more testing required. SM-6 is the only missile in the world that can perform anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare and terminal ballistic missile defense, the company said.

“The U.S. Navy began deploying SM-6s four years ago, but we’ve continued to give it software upgrades and test it in every possible scenario to learn more about what it could do,” Mike Campisi, Raytheon’s SM-6 senior program director, said in the release. “We’ve continued to raise the bar, and the missile has exceeded it every time.”

Four SM-6 missiles were fired throughout the testing, each against a single shore-launched, sub- or supersonic target. All four test missions were successful.

“The missile is fully ready for deployment in all three modes at sea,” said Campisi. “That kind of flexibility is exactly what our sailors need, and that's exactly what they're going to get.”

Final assembly of SM-6 takes place at Raytheon’s state-of-the-art production facility at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala. Raytheon has delivered more than 330 SM-6 missiles with continuing production. The U.S. Department of Defense approved the release of SM-6 to several international customers in early 2017.

http://seapowermagazine.org/stories/20170428-SM6.html

 

[C130]

could this ever be fielded as mobile air defense missile system?? it's got about same range as S-400

 

[Penguin]

could this ever be fielded as mobile air defense missile system?? it's got about same range as S-400

ESSM is being integrated into the Norwegian Kongsberg NASAMS. I don't see a technical reason why SM6 could not be at the core of a land-based system. There is in fact the AEGIS Ashore (with SM3), but this is static.

Pretty large missile, though

http://intercepts.defensenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/620429-008.jpg

http://tucson.com/business/local/ra...cle_eafdf302-3d77-5e2b-a8c5-3d243a178769.html

In the past, the Israeli's used a truck based ground launched Standard ARM (= excl. booster stage)
http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/vehicles/self_propelled_artillery/keres/Keres.htm

The launch containers are very similar to those used by Taiwan for Standard Sm1 on its Knox class frigates.
https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/paki...gates-with-turkey.479495/page-15#post-9294662