The US Navy’s Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser, USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), has successfully test-fired two Raytheon Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) interceptors against anti-ship and cruise-missile targets in the Pacific.
As part of the navy’s combat ship qualification trials, the first SM-6 successfully hit the low-altitude, short-range supersonic target (GQM-163A), while the second captured a low-altitude, medium-range subsonic target (BQM-74E).
Raytheon Standard Missile-6 senior programme director Mike Campisi said: "Advanced warning and cueing from another sensor or ship allows the US Navy to take full advantage of SM-6’s over-the-horizon capability.
"Now the warfighter does not have to wait until the threat is knocking at the door to take it out. Targets are destroyed much sooner and one ship can defend a much larger area."
Integrating its own individualised radar system designed to trace the movement of target, the SM-6 is aimed at delivering extended range protection against fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles.
The missile, which is capable of providing over-the-horizon air defence capability, comes with advanced signal processing and the guidance control capabilities of the advanced medium-range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM).
Furthermore, the missile, which forms part of a major component in the US Navy’s naval-integrated fire control-counter air (NIFC-CA), uses both active and semi-active guidance modes and advanced fusing techniques to defend against a range of air threats.
The US Navy has taken delivery of approximately 130 SM-6 interceptors from Raytheon.
Image: The US Navy’s Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville. Photo: courtesy of US Navy mass communication specialist 3rd class Michael Feddersen / released.
