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SM-3, SM-2s take on ballistic, cruise missile targets during simulated missile 'raid' attack exercise

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Defense Industry News - USA
 
 
 
SM-3, SM-2s take on ballistic, cruise missile targets during simulated missile 'raid' attack exercise
 
In partnership with the Missile Defense Agency, a U.S. Navy destroyer successfully engaged ballistic and cruise missile targets simultaneously with a Raytheon-made Standard Missile-3 and Standard Missile-2s in a complex integrated air and missile defense exercise.
     
In partnership with the Missile Defense Agency, a U.S. Navy destroyer successfully engaged ballistic and cruise missile targets simultaneously with a Raytheon-made Standard Missile-3 and Standard Missile-2s in a complex integrated air and missile defense exercise.
A SM-3 Launches from USS Lake Erie during a test
(File Picture: US Navy)
     
"This test showcases the U.S.'s ability to defend against numerous ballistic and cruise missile threats in 'raid' scenarios," said Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, president of Raytheon Missile Systems. "No other nation in the world has the capability to do what the U.S. Navy and Missile Defense Agency demonstrated today."

During the test, an SM-3 Block IB destroyed a short-range ballistic missile target, while two SM-2 Block IIIAs successfully engaged two cruise missile targets.

The SM-3's kill vehicle is designed to destroy incoming short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missile threats by colliding with them in space, a concept sometimes described as "hitting a bullet with a bullet." The SM-2 is a fleet-area air defense weapon capable of providing extended-area air defense.

The SM-3 Block IB is deployed with the U.S. Navy, while the SM-2 is deployed by the U.S. and eight allied navies.
     
In partnership with the Missile Defense Agency, a U.S. Navy destroyer successfully engaged ballistic and cruise missile targets simultaneously with a Raytheon-made Standard Missile-3 and Standard Missile-2s in a complex integrated air and missile defense exercise.
PACIFIC OCEAN (May 15, 2013) A Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block 1B interceptor missile is launched from the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) during a Missile Defense Agency and U.S. Navy test in the mid-Pacific. The SM-3 Block 1B successfully intercepted a target missile that had been launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands in Kauai, Hawaii. Lake Erie detected and tracked the target with its onboard AN/SPY-1 radar. The event was the third consecutive successful intercept test of the SM-3 Block IB missile. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)
     
About the Standard Missile-3
The SM-3 does not contain an explosive warhead, but instead destroys the threats using sheer impact, equivalent to a 10-ton truck traveling at 600 mph.

» More than 200 SM-3s have been delivered ahead of schedule and under cost.
» Raytheon is on track to deliver the next-generation SM-3 Block IB in 2015.
» SM-3 Block IIA, co-developed with Japan, will have larger rocket motors and a bigger, more capable kinetic warhead. It's on track for deployment at sea and ashore in 2018.

About the Standard Missile-2
SM-2s are the world's premier fleet-area air defense weapons. The missiles are also capable of providing extended-area air defense.

» SM-2's international customers include: Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Spain and Taiwan.
» SM-2 has been integrated with both Aegis and non-Aegis combat weapon systems.
» The missile can be launched from the MK-41, MK-13 and MK-26 launchers.
» SM-2 has an extensive flight test history of more than 2,500 successful flight tests
» More than 5,000 SM-2s have been delivered to the US and allied customers.