Two Navy SM-6 missiles fired off a ship successfully engaged targets after being launched using targeting information provided by another vessel as part of the development of “engage on remote” capabilities, the manufacturer of the SM-6, Raytheon [RTN], said Friday.
The Standard Missile-6 interceptor fired off a cruiser, the USS
Chancellorsville (CG-62), before the Aegis ship was able to see them with its own radar while using data provided by a nearby Aegis destroyer, the USS Sampson (DDG-102), Raytheon said.
One SM-6 interceptor took out a GQM-163A, which is designed to fly out supersonic speeds and low altitudes to simulate an anti-ship cruise missile. The second interceptor struck a target drone flying at low altitude at subsonic speeds.
“Advanced warning and cueing from another sensor or ship allows the U.S. Navy to take full advantage of SM-6’s over-the-horizon capability,” said Mike Campisi, Raytheon’s senior program director for the SM-6.
“Now the warfighter does not have to wait until the threat is knocking at the door to take it out,” Campisi said. “Targets are destroyed much sooner and one ship can defend a much larger area.”
The SM-6 is designed to counter air and ballistic missile threat while operating in the Lockheed Martin [LMT]-supplied Aegis combat system. Raytheon has said it plans to complete the capability for ballistic missile defense in the terminal phase by the end of 2015.
Later SM-6 Block 1A versions will also have both capabilities and will be upgraded for enhanced performance with its guidance systems, the company says.
Folllow-on Operational Test and Evaluation for the SM-6 is expected to run through second quarter of fiscal 2016.