A Standard Missile-6 which will be part of the Royal Australian Navy's new Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) arsenal has destroyed a short-range ballistic missile target during initial tests at sea.
“SM-6 is an advanced multi-mission missile built upon decades of technological innovation and best practices,” said Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, president of Raytheon Missile Systems. “Its success showcases the value in using mature components in innovative ways.”
Deployed on cruisers and destroyers, SM-6 currently provides the US Navy fleet with air defence against fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and land-attack anti-ship cruise missiles in flight, over both sea and land.
"Our objective was to demonstrate the SM-6's ability to intercept ballistic missiles in their terminal or final seconds of flight," said Lawrence.
He also noted that the version of SM-6 that has ballistic missile defence capability will be referred to as SM-6 ‘Dual 1.’
“When it deploys next year, it will be the only missile in the world capable of both anti-air warfare and ballistic missile defence from sea,” said Lawrence.
“When it deploys next year, it will be the only missile in the world capable of both anti-air warfare and ballistic missile defence from sea.”
The SM-6 combines the legacy Standard Missile airframe and propulsion elements with the advanced signal processing and guidance control capabilities of Raytheon’s Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile.
The milestone took place during a complex test that spanned several days. It included two additional SM-6 interceptors, that engaged cruise missile targets in anti-air warfare scenarios.
A Standard Missile-2 Block IV (The RAN currently uses the Block III - see a recent story concerning an explosion during launch) also destroyed a short-range ballistic missile target.
The first AWD, NUSHIP Hobart, is expected to enter service with the RAN in June 2017.