SM-6 Missile demonstrated ability to detect and engage targets over land in latest US Navy test

: Posted On Monday, 18 August 2014 09:55

Naval Forces News - USA

SM-6 Missile demonstrated ability to detect and engage targets over land in latest US Navy test

The U.S. Navy executed a successful flight test of the surface-to-air Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) at White Sands Missile Range, Aug. 14. During flight test "Juliet," the Navy examined the missile's ability to intercept a subsonic, low altitude target over land. Juliet is one of 10 follow on operational test and evaluation (FOT&E) events planned for SM-6's missile performance and demonstration.

PACIFIC OCEAN (June 19, 2014) The Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) launches a Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) during a live-fire test of the ship's aegis weapons system. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)

"This event demonstrated SM-6's ability to detect and engage a slow moving target in the presence of complex land clutter," said Jim Schuh, anti-air warfare missiles technical director at the Johns Hopkins University applied physics lab, which is among the Navy's SM-6 partners. "It is another victory for this very versatile weapon."

The SM-6 provides an over-the-horizon engagement capability when launched from an Aegis warship. It uses the latest in hardware and software missile technology to provide needed capabilities against evolving threats.

"This is an important achievement for Naval warfare," said Capt. Michael Ladner, program executive office, integrated warfare systems 3.0 program manager. "SM-6 is undoubtedly the most advanced anti-air missile the Navy has ever produced and delivered to our Sailors."

The SM-6 is the sixth variant of the Standard Missile family developed for the Navy with Raytheon Missiles Systems. Last June, Raytheon was awarded a $275 million contract modification covering SM-6's all-up round production and its spares. The SM-6 program has been in development for seven years and achieved initial operational capability in November 2013. It is now undergoing FOT&E, which is projected to be completed during the second quarter of Fiscal Year 16.