SM-6 Standard ERAM
Encyclopedia
The RIM-174 Standard Extended Range Active Missile (ERAM), or Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) is a missile that has just gone into production for the United States Navy
and the Royal Australian Navy
. It was designed for extended range anti-air warfare (ER-AAW) purposes providing capability against fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and anti-ship cruise missiles in flight, both over sea and land. The missile uses the airframe of the earlier SM-2ER Block IV (RIM-156A) missile, adding the active radar homing
seeker from the AIM-120C AMRAAM in place of the semi-active seeker of the previous design. This will improve the capability of the Standard missile against highly agile targets, and targets beyond the effective range of the launching vessels' target illumination radars.
The missile may be employed in a number of modes: inertial guided to target with terminal acquisition using active radar seeker, semi-active radar homing all the way, or a over the horizon shot with cooperative engagement capability. The missile is also capable of terminal ballistic missile defense as a supplement to the SM-3 missile.
Unlike other missiles of the Standard family, the ERAM can be periodically tested and certified without removal from the VLS cell.
entered a contract in 2004 to develop this missile for the United States Navy, after the cancellation of the SM-2ER Block IVA (RIM-156B) missile. Development started in 2005, followed by testing in 2007. The missile was officially designated RIM-174A in February 2008. Initial low rate production was authorized in 2009.
Raytheon
received a $93 million contract to begin production of the RIM-174A in September 2009. The first production missile was delivered in March of 2011.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
. It was designed for extended range anti-air warfare (ER-AAW) purposes providing capability against fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and anti-ship cruise missiles in flight, both over sea and land. The missile uses the airframe of the earlier SM-2ER Block IV (RIM-156A) missile, adding the active radar homing
Active radar homing
Active radar homing is a missile guidance method in which a guided missile contains a radar transceiver and the electronics necessary for it to find and track its target autonomously...
seeker from the AIM-120C AMRAAM in place of the semi-active seeker of the previous design. This will improve the capability of the Standard missile against highly agile targets, and targets beyond the effective range of the launching vessels' target illumination radars.
Description
The Standard ERAM is a two stage missile with a booster stage, and a second stage. It is similar in appearance to the RIM-156A Standard missile. The radar seeker is an enlarged version adapted from the AIM-120C AMRAAM seeker (13.5 inches versus 7 inches).The missile may be employed in a number of modes: inertial guided to target with terminal acquisition using active radar seeker, semi-active radar homing all the way, or a over the horizon shot with cooperative engagement capability. The missile is also capable of terminal ballistic missile defense as a supplement to the SM-3 missile.
Unlike other missiles of the Standard family, the ERAM can be periodically tested and certified without removal from the VLS cell.
History
RaytheonRaytheon
Raytheon Company is a major American defense contractor and industrial corporation with core manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. It was previously involved in corporate and special-mission aircraft until early 2007...
entered a contract in 2004 to develop this missile for the United States Navy, after the cancellation of the SM-2ER Block IVA (RIM-156B) missile. Development started in 2005, followed by testing in 2007. The missile was officially designated RIM-174A in February 2008. Initial low rate production was authorized in 2009.
Raytheon
Raytheon
Raytheon Company is a major American defense contractor and industrial corporation with core manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. It was previously involved in corporate and special-mission aircraft until early 2007...
received a $93 million contract to begin production of the RIM-174A in September 2009. The first production missile was delivered in March of 2011.
See also
- RIM-66 Standard Medium RangeRIM-66 StandardThe RIM-66 Standard MR is a medium range surface-to-air missile originally developed for the United States Navy . The SM-1 was developed as a replacement for the RIM-2 Terrier and RIM-24 Tartar that were deployed in the 1950s on a variety of USN ships...
- RIM-67 Standard Extended RangeRIM-67 StandardThe RIM-67 Standard ER is an extended range surface-to-air missile and anti ship missile originally developed for the United States Navy...
- RIM-161 Standard Missile 3RIM-161 Standard Missile 3The RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 is a ship-based missile system used by the US Navy to intercept short-to intermediate-range ballistic missiles as a part of Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. Although primarily designed as an anti-ballistic missile, the SM-3 has also been employed in an...
External links
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/sm-6.htm
- http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-174.html