Date posted: 01/14/2010*

SM-6 continues the family tradition

Standard Missile-6 has added another page to the storied history of the U.S. Navy’s primary surface-to-air defense weapon with a successful guided test vehicle launch.

Also known as the Extended Range Active Missile, SM-6 is an evolutionary U.S. Navy upgrade to the Standard Missile family that provides a transformational long-range, over-the-horizon integrated fire control capability to counter the ever-evolving threat.

SM-6 firepower contributes significantly to assuring joint access to swiftly defeat the enemy and will capitalize on target cueing that can come from the launch ship or a remote sensor (airborne, sea-based or land-based). Vertically launched from a MK 41 VLS canister, SM-6 is compatible with existing Aegis cruisers and destroyers and future Navy cruisers and destroyers

“SM-6 provides a capability to interdict overland cruise missile threats over-the-horizon, as well as retaining full capability against stressing maritime threats,” said Louis Moncada, SM-6 program director. “The missile will support a fully integrated extended range anti-air warfare detect-to-engage capability for Aegis ships and future combatants such as DDG-1000 and CG[X].”

SM-6 missile will provide an extended range engagement capability to provide an umbrella of protection against the full spectrum of manned-fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and land attack and anti-ship cruise missiles in flight. As well as introducing an active radar seeker, the SM-6 will also deliver the kinematic performance to defeat current and projected threats that possess low altitude, high altitude, high velocity and maneuver characteristics at the maximum range of the missile.

In September SM-6 won the first of several planned low-rate initial production contracts to build 19 systems for the U.S. Navy. The $93 million contract includes the production of missiles, delivery of spare parts and missile containers, and system and design engineering developments. The first missiles will be delivered starting in early 2011.

“Standard Missile-6 has been on budget and on schedule since the program started in 2002,” said Moncada. “Low-rate initial production begins our process of delivering this integral weapon system to the warfighter.”