(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — For the first time, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has successfully launched the long-range SM-6 (Standard Missile-6) air defense missile, as announced by the country’s Department of Defense recently.
The SM-6 air defense missile was launched by the RAN’s destroyer, HMAS Sydney.
“HMAS Sydney has successfully conducted the launch of the SM-6 missile, just weeks after the successful launch of the anti-ship Naval Strike Missile. “
“This marks another milestone in enhancing the capabilities of our fleet. The SM-6 missile will further boost the Royal Australian Navy’s air defense capabilities, extending the range of naval weapon systems and complementing the existing SM-2 missiles,” according to the statement from the Australian Department of Defense.
The SM-6 air defense missile test launch occurred earlier this month as part of the 2024 Pacific Dragon Exercise held near Hawaii.
The statement noted that the latest RAN air defense missile launch represents a significant upgrade to the effectiveness of its air defense systems and long-range strike capabilities of its warships.
The long-range SM-6 air defense missile test followed the recent launch of the Naval Strike Missile during the world’s largest maritime exercise, Rim of the Pacific 2024 (RIMPAC).
In a video released by the Australian Department of Defense, the SM-6 missile is shown leaving one of the 48 Mk41 VLS (Vertical Launch System) cells onboard the Hobart-class destroyer, HMAS Sydney.
“The SM-6 missile will progressively equip Hobart-class destroyers and, in the future, Hunter-class frigates.”
“The introduction of the SM-6 missile enhances the air defense effectiveness of these warships,” according to the Australian Department of Defense.
Currently, the Royal Australian Navy has three destroyers in service, all of which will be equipped with the Aegis Baseline 9 Combat System, providing the capability to counter air threats, including ballistic missiles.
HMAS Sydney, commissioned in 2020, is the third destroyer in the Hobart-class, alongside HMAS Hobart and HMAS Brisbane.
The SM-6 missile, or RIM-174 Standard Extended Range Active Missile (ERAM), is a multi-mission missile capable of anti-air warfare, ballistic missile defense, and anti-ship strike missions.
The SM-6 is a two-stage missile, initially launched vertically from its launcher cell using the Mk 72 Solid Rocket Booster and then propelled by a dual-thrust rocket motor, allowing it to travel up to 370 km to engage its target.
It uses an Active Radar Homing (ARH) seeker, derived from the AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile), to guide it to its target once it is out of the warship’s radar range.
The SM-6 missile employs a blast-fragmentation warhead, activated by radar and contact fuses to neutralize its target.
The SM-6 missile was developed by RTX (formerly known as Raytheon). — DSA