Nieuwe ontwikkelingen op Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) gebied.

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

Navy To Supersize Its Ultra Versatile SM-6 Missile For Even Longer Range And Higher Speed

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/27068/navy-to-supersize-its-ultra-versatile-sm-6-missile-for-even-longer-range-and-higher-speed

[Sparkplug]

Zou een zeer gewenste zet zijn immers sinds het uitfaseren van de F14 met haar AIM-54 Phoenix ontbreekt het de USN een aan lange afstandscapaciteit.

Indien de SM-6 hiervoor geschikt wordt gemaakt zal men wel rap moeten beginnen met het ontwikkelen van een alternatief want deze past tenslotte niet in het wapenruim van de F35 familie of men moet accepteren dat deze extern wordt meegevoerd.

Ander voordeel is dat met een aanzienlijk groter aantal deze oplossing ook meer betaalbaar wordt, wat dit systeem weer meer aantrekkelijk maakt voor vLCF.

Hopelijk is de SM-6 Dual II heel wat beter dan de AIM-54. Overigens is de beschreven Super Hornet loadout met 4 x SM-6 Dual II en 6 x AIM-120D wel heel er ambitieus. De weapon stations 2 en 10 kunnen geen 2 AMRAAM's dragen en de weapon stations 1 en 11 (wing tips) is alleen voor AIM-9.

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

It's Time to Arm the Navy's Super Hornet with the Ultimate Missile 

Zou een zeer gewenste zet zijn immers sinds het uitfaseren van de F14 met haar AIM-54 Phoenix ontbreekt het de USN een aan lange afstandscapaciteit.

Indien de SM-6 hiervoor geschikt wordt gemaakt zal men wel rap moeten beginnen met het ontwikkelen van een alternatief want deze past tenslotte niet in het wapenruim van de F35 familie of men moet accepteren dat deze extern wordt meegevoerd.

Ander voordeel is dat met een aanzienlijk groter aantal deze oplossing ook meer betaalbaar wordt, wat dit systeem weer meer aantrekkelijk maakt voor vLCF.

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

It's Time to Arm the Navy's Super Hornet with the Ultimate Missile 

http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/its-time-arm-the-navys-super-hornet-the-ultimate-missile-25138

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

SM-6 technologie kan zijn weg vinden naar de SM-2. De ontwikkeling van de SM-2 block IIIC.
Janes en FedBizOpps.gov

Range is/wordt gezien mondiale ontwikkelingen een dingetje, de MR varianten schieten wat mij betreft letterlijk te kort.

[ridivek]

SM-6 technologie kan zijn weg vinden naar de SM-2. De ontwikkeling van de SM-2 block IIIC.
Janes en FedBizOpps.gov

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

Volgens mij hebben Europesche landen alleen SM-2MR aangeschaft. Aanschaf van SM-6 zou een aanvullende capaciteit zijn. naar mijn mening.

SM-6 heeft als bijkomend voordeel dat deze ingezet kan worden als (licht) ASuW wapen.

[ridivek]

  volgens mij is de beste vervanger voor een SM-2MR een SM-2MR.
Ter vervanging van de SM-2ER is de SM-6 gekomen. SM-3 block1 is een SM-6 met extra 3e trap motor en kinetic interceptor. En dan is er ook nog de SM-3 block 2, die gebruikt de booster (1e trap) van de SM-3 & -6. De 2e en 3e trap zijn afwijkend.
Volgens mij hebben Europesche landen alleen SM-2MR aangeschaft. Aanschaf van SM-6 zou een aanvullende capaciteit zijn. naar mijn mening.

[Parera]

Stapje voor stapje... al denk ik dat je de Belgen kunt afstrepen van het lijstje... vMFF wordt tenslotte geen AAW platform.

ESSM Block 2 is denk ik al luchtverdedigingswapen het maximaal haalbare voor NL en BE M fregatopvolger, waarbij SM-3, voor vMFF als eventuele shooter, natuurlijk een ander verhaal is.

SM-6 zou kunnen voor de Belgen indien de SM-3 niet haalbaar is, al is deze alleen inzetbaar tegen MRBM's maar opzich een mooi systeem voor Belgie en Nederland waarbij Nederland de SM-3 nog kan inzetten voor grotere afstanden vanaf de LCF's / vLCF's

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

Ja de info komt uit de Deense defensie planning tot 2023 maar ik heb dit niet opgeslagen (tekst was in het Deens). Laten we hopen dat Nederland / Duitsland / ?Belgie? ook aansluiten voor de aankoop van de SM-6 in hetzelfde tijdsbestek als de Denen. Het ging wel om een klein aantal in deze periode waarbij de overstap gemaakt gaat worden van SM-2 naar SM-6 maar je moet ergens beginnen.

Stapje voor stapje... al denk ik dat je de Belgen kunt afstrepen van het lijstje... vMFF wordt tenslotte geen AAW platform.

ESSM Block 2 is denk ik al luchtverdedigingswapen het maximaal haalbare voor NL en BE M fregatopvolger, waarbij SM-3, voor vMFF als eventuele shooter, natuurlijk een ander verhaal is.

[Parera]

Top, moeten wij ook doen! (als de Denen hiervoor kiezen, dan komt de stap voor NL ook dichterbij)

Ja de info komt uit de Deense defensie planning tot 2023 maar ik heb dit niet opgeslagen (tekst was in het Deens). Laten we hopen dat Nederland / Duitsland / ?Belgie? ook aansluiten voor de aankoop van de SM-6 in hetzelfde tijdsbestek als de Denen. Het ging wel om een klein aantal in deze periode waarbij de overstap gemaakt gaat worden van SM-2 naar SM-6 maar je moet ergens beginnen.

[jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)]

De Denen zullen ook de SM-6 gaan aankopen over enkele jaren naast/ als vervanging van de SM-2.

Top, moeten wij ook doen! (als de Denen hiervoor kiezen, dan komt de stap voor NL ook dichterbij)

[Parera]

De Denen zullen ook de SM-6 gaan aankopen over enkele jaren naast/ als vervanging van de SM-2.

Denmark funds naval AAW, ASW upgrades in new defence agreement
   
Denmark's cross-party Defence Agreement for 2018–23 has earmarked funding for the Royal Danish Navy (RDN) to invest in significant upgrades to its anti-air warfare (AAW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities.

Under the new six-year plan, published on 28 January, the Danish defence budget will rise year on year, from an extra DKK800 million (USD133.5 million) in 2018 to an additional DKK4.8 billion in 2023.

According to the Danish government, the agreement "will strengthen Danish defence contributions to NATO's collective deterrence, improve capacity to contribute to international operations, enhance defence contributions to national security, and increase cyber defence as well as the national emergency preparedness".

[Source: Janes.com ]

[Harald]

Navy SM-6 Intercept Proves It Could Counter North Korea Attack

The Navy recently destroyed a ballistic missile target with an SM-6 missile during a test off the coast of Scotland, verifying that the high-tech weapon does have an ability

The Navy recently destroyed a ballistic missile target with an SM-6 missile during a test off the coast of Scotland, verifying that the high-tech weapon does have an ability to track and destroy incoming enemy medium and long-range ballistic missiles.

While the Navy did not specifically say the test was aimed at preparing for a North Korean conventional ballistic missile attack on South Korea, the successful intercept did further validate the kind of technology likely to be used to defend South Korea or Japan in that kind of scenario.

"The U.S. Missile Defense Agency and U.S. Navy sailors aboard USS McFaul successfully test fired a Standard Missile-6. That flight test, designated Standard Missile Controlled Test Vehicle (SM CTV)-03, demonstrated the successful performance of an SM-6 launched from an Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense capable DDG (destroyer) and was conducted as part of the system's flight certification process," a statement from the Missile Defense Agency said

Given the current tensions with North Korea, many observers and military planners have made the point that any kind of US-led military strike upon North Korea would likely be followed by a massive launch of conventional ballistic missiles by North Korea against South Korea and Japan.  As a result, it would by no means surprise anyone to see the US sharpen, test, refine and deploy various missile defense technologies; these include land-based systems such as the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense weapon and, as tested, an SM-6 fired from a ship at sea.

At the same time, many have questioned whether even the most advanced ballistic missile defenses would be able to track and destroy an incoming barrage of multiple ballistic missiles.

The Navy has been preparing an emerging Standard Missile 6 missile variant for combat by test-firing the weapon engineered with upgraded software - enabling it to perform a range of functions to inlcude air-warfare, ballistic missile terminal defense and anti-surface warfare capabilities, service officials said.

The Navy successfully executed four flight tests of the surface-to-air Standard Missile-6 Block I (SM-6 Blk I) off the Hawaiian coast earlier

Navy and MDA tests have also simultaneously fired two Standard Missile-6 weapons in rapid succession at a single ballistic missile target to asses performance against medium-range ballistic missile threats in the final stage of flight.

Using an "active seeker" technology, two SM-6 missiles were able to simultaneously track and destroy a single target, greatly improving the probability of a target kill.

The concept with an active seeker is to enable the one or two SM-6 missiles to adjust to fast moving targets and stay on track in the even the target maneuvers or changes position.

The SM-6 is unique in several respects; the weapon uses what is called an "active" seeker, meaning it can send a signal or electromagnetic ping forward in addition to receiving them. Electromagnetic signals, which travel at the speed of light, send a signal forward before analyzing the return signal to determine the shape, size, speed or configuration of an approaching threat. Since the speed of light is known, and the time of travel is able to be determined, a computer algorithm is able to calculate the exact distance of an object. This technology is built into the SM-6, using software upgrades.

An "active seeker" gives the missile to better attack maneuvering or moving targets at sea, because it is not wholly dependent upon a ship-based illuminator to bounce a signal off a target for a merely "passive" seeker to receive.

This is the technology which allows a ship commander to fire several SM-6 missiles in more rapid succession or closer to one another in the event that a target needs to be attacked with more than one missile.

"A ship can illuminate or communicate with the missile while looking for a target, Raytheon developers said.

Now, SM-6 "active seeker" technology allows the missile to use its own built-in seeker technology to navigate without needing a ship-based illuminator.

"We had two missiles in the air and we wanted to make sure that we were in fact pulling in on the target and looking at target versus looking at the other missile that's in the air. Simulations all said the missile would never look at the other missile in the air however, but it's nice to prove that.

Compared with the SM-3, the ship-fired SM-6 interceptor is designed to track and destroy lower-altitude threats such as a ballistic missile in the "terminal" phase of decent to its target.

The weapon has been established with an ability to knock out ballistic missiles approaching from the sky. More recently, the weapon has been developed for a number of new "offensive" missions including surface attacks against enemy ships or defensive intercepts against anti-ship missiles closer to the surface.

The SM-6 has also been capable of anti-air defense, equipped with an ability to attack or destroy enemy helicopters, drones and other approaching threats.  The weapon has now been established as defensive, offensive and capable of three distinct missions; they are surface warfare, anti-air warfare and ballistic missile defense.

Navy leaders emphasize that the fast-changing threat environment means new offensive and defensive technologies need to emerge in order for the US to maintain its edge over potential near-peer rivals. Along these lines, Russian and Chinese missile modernization is by no means lost on US weapons developers. In particular, both Russia and China are widely know to possess mobile ballistic missile launchers, a scenario which without question magnifies the need for advanced ballistic missile defense. 

SM-6 for Surface Attack

This most recent development comes on the heels of a successful test last year where an SM-6 destroyed and sank a surface ship target off the coast of Hawaii, providing additional strategic relevance for an new offensive use of a missile previous oriented toward air and ballistic missile defense, Raytheon and Navy officials said.

Previous anti-surface warfare tests have proven that an SM-6 can attack surface ships, including an instance wherein the weapon destroyed a Perry-class fast Frigate.

The test, which took place at Pacific Missile Range Facility, Hawaii, involved the rare event of an actual destruction and sinking of a decommissioned or retired Navy ship.

In this instance he firing of the SM-6 was designed to analyze new software configurations on the missile, giving it an ability to track and destroy targets on the surface of the water - as opposed to its typical use of hitting or intercepting incoming enemy fire from the air above a ship or near the earth's atmosphere as a ballistic missile defense weapon.

Using the SM-6 as an offensive weapon against surface targets is a new application for the Navy, bringing another kind of surface fire-power to the fleet. The SM-6 is larger than the SM-3 interceptor and is designed to destroy closer-in air targets. However, this test launches the ability for the SM-6 to function in an additional capacity as an offensive weapon against a wide range of surface targets.

The software adjustments to the missile allow a single SM-6 to perform all of its different functions, developers said.

Raytheon developers say the system will identify a target and send a signal to the firing ship. Based on the signal, it chooses the software path and the activities it is going to perform in engaging its missions.

The SM-6 weapon has been operational since 2013; the Navy has at least 250 of the missiles in its arsenal. Last year, the Navy awarded Raytheon a $270 million deal for 2016 SM-6 production.

SM-6 Technology

The USS John Paul Jones, an Arleigh Burke Class destroyer, fired the SM-6 using on board fire-control technology and Aegis Radar systems equipped with the latest fire-control technology called Aegis Baseline 9. The missile's final assembly takes place at Raytheon's state-of-the-art SM-6 and SM-3 all-up-round production facility at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala.

An emerging Navy technology called Naval Integrated Fire Control - Counter Air, or NIFC-CA, also relies upon the SM-6 to help track and destroy approaching anti-ship cruise missiles from distances beyond the horizon. The NIFC-CA system, which was first deployed last year, also relies upon an airborne sensor to relay a signal from an approaching enemy target. The Navy has tested and E2-D Hawkeye surveillance plane and an F-35 as the airborne sensor able to relay targeting information.

The SM-6 is configured to fire from Navy Cruisers and Destroyers out of a Vertical Launch System tube; although there is not yet a ship deck-mounted launcher for the missile, it appears conceivable that the Navy could explore an option along these lines. This would enable the weapon to fire from a wider range of ships such as the Littoral Combat Ship, Frigates, Amphibious Assault Ships or even Aircraft Carriers.

The development of this weapon, along with other missiles and emerging offensive and defensive technologies, is entirely consistent with the Navy's "distributed lethality" strategy; this ongoing effort aims to better arm ships with next-generation communications technology and cutting-edge, longer-range offensive and defensive weapons. This is informed by a series of key concepts such as efforst to better enable surface ships to conduct open or "blue" water combat against a near-peer adversary, sustain the Navy's global technological edge, hold enemies at risk from farther distances and allow surface ships to both "aggregate" and "distribute" or disperse as needed as a way to reduce the prospect of a successful enemy attack.

https://scout.com/military/warrior/Article/Navy-SM-6-Intercept-Proves-It-Could-Counter-North-Korea-Attack-110262741

[Harald]

New SM-6 Intercepts Ballistic Missile Target At Sea; Test of enhanced software succeeds against sophisticated medium-range ballistic missile

PACIFIC MISSILE RANGE, Hawaii --- A Raytheon-built Standard Missile-6 intercepted a medium-range ballistic missile target at sea in its final seconds of flight, after being fired from the USS John Paul Jones.

The SM-6 missile can perform anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare and – now – even more advanced ballistic missile defense at sea.

"Earlier this year, our customer requested an enhanced capability to deal with a sophisticated medium-range ballistic missile threat," said Mike Campisi, Raytheon's SM-6 senior program director. "We did all this – the analysis, coding and testing – in seven months; a process that normally takes one to two years."

This was the third time that the SM-6 missile successfully engaged a ballistic missile target in its terminal phase. It was first tested in a successful flight test mission in August 2015, and then again in late 2016.

Deployed on U.S. Navy ships, SM-6 delivers a proven over-the-horizon offensive and defensive capability by leveraging the time-tested Standard Missile airframe and propulsion system. It's the only missile that supports anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare and sea-based terminal ballistic missile defense in one solution—and it's enabling the U.S. and its allies to cost-effectively increase the offensive might of surface forces. Raytheon has delivered more than 330 SM-6 missiles with continuing production.

The U.S. Department of Defense has approved the sale of SM-6 to several allied nations.

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/186369/new-sm_6-intercepts-ballistic-missile-target-at-sea.html