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The Standard Missile is a type of surface-to-air missile (SAM) originally developed for the United States Navy (USN). The SM-1 was developed as a replacement for the RIM-2 Terrier and RIM-24 Tartar systems deployed in the 1950s on a variety of USN ships. The RIM-66A/B Standard MR, (SM-1MR Block I to V) was used during the Vietnam War. It used the same fuselage as the earlier Tartar, for easier use with existing launchers and magazines. The RIM-66C/D Standard MR (SM-2MR Block I), was developed in the 1970s and was a key part of the Aegis combat system and New Threat Upgrade (NTU). In the early 1980s, the missile was deployed via Vertical Launching System (VLS) aboard the USS Bunker Hill, the first U.S. Navy ship to deploy a vertical launcher. VLS is now the predominant launcher used with the Standard missile in the U.S. Navy aboard Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. The standard missile was designed and integrated by the Standard Missile Company (SMCo), jointly owned by Hughes Missile Systems Company and Raytheon Company. SMCo is the prime contractor for Standard Missile.^[1] The SM-1 and SM-2 were continuously upgraded through Blocks (see below).

Contents 1 Variations 2 RIM-66 SM-2 Medium Range Block III/IIIA/IIIB 3 RIM-67 SM-2 Extended Range 4 RIM-156 SM-2 Extended Range Block IV 5 RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) Block I/IA 6 SM-6 ERAM, the future Standard Missile 7 Operational history 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External links

Versions of the Standard missile were used as the basis for the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. Two were initially developed, the "Navy Area" and "Navy Theater-Wide." The "Navy Area" system was canceled by the United States Department of Defense due to delays in its development and cost-growth. "Navy Theater-Wide" continues under another name as part of the Missile Defense Agency's family of systems. The Navy has tested the RIM-156 Standard SM-2ER Block IV and RIM-161 Standard SM-3 for ballistic missile defense usage.

The Standard can also be used against ships, either at line-of-sight range using its semi-active homing mode, or over the horizon using inertial guidance and terminal infrared homing.^[2] At one time it was planned to mount a W81 nuclear warhead, but this development was later shelved. The air launched AGM-78 Standard ARM and the ship launched RGM-66 Standard ARM were variants used as anti-radiation missiles in the 1970s.

General characteristics^[3]

• Primary function: surface-to-air
• Contractor: Raytheon and others
• Power plant: dual thrust, solid fuel rocket
• Length: 15 ft., 6 in. (4.72 m)
• Weight: SM-2 – 1,558 lb (708 kg)
• Diameter: 13.5 in. (343 mm)
• Wing span: 3 ft., 6 in. (1.08 m)
• Range: 40 to 90 nautical miles (74 to 167 km)
• Guidance system: semi-active radar homing (inertial guidance with terminal IR additionally fitted in Block IIIB)
• Warhead: radar and contact fuze, blast fragmentation warhead
• Date deployed: 1981 (SM-2MR)

The RIM-67 SM-2ER was the Navy's replacement for RIM-2 Terrier missile. Ships carrying the SM-2 ER were often still called Terrier ships even after the SM-2ER. Because the RIM-67's first stage booster was very long, it could not fit into the Mk 41 VLS system, and thus could not be used with the Aegis weapon system. The SM-2 Block IV with the Mk 72 booster was developed to compensate for the lack of a long range SM for the Ticonderoga-class of Aegis cruisers.

General characteristics^[3]

• Primary function: fleet and extended area air defense
• Contractor: Raytheon and others
• Power plant: two-staged solid-fueled rockets
• Length: 21 ft., 6 in. (6.55 m) with booster
• Weight: 3,225 lb (1466 kg)
• Diameter: 21 in. (533 mm) with booster
• Wing Span: 3 ft., 6 in. (1.08 m)
• Range: 100 to 200 nautical miles (185 to 370 km)
• Guidance system: semi-active radar homing. Inertial/command guidance with terminal IR homing in Block IV-A
• Warhead: radar and contact fuze, blast-fragment warhead
• Date deployed: 1998

General characteristics ^[4]

• Primary function: Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System
• Contractor: Raytheon
• Power plant:
  • First Stage: Mk72 Booster Aerojet
  • Second Stage: MK104 Dual Thrust Rocket Motor (DTRM) Aerojet
  • Third Stage: MK136 Third Stage Rocket Motor (TSRM) ATK
  • Fourth Stage: Solid Divert and Attitude Control System (SDACS) ATK
• Length:
• Weight:
• Diameter: 0.34 m (13.5 in)
• Wing Span: 1.57 m (61.8 in)
• Range: >10 nautical miles
• Guidance system: GPS / INS / Semi-active radar homing / Passive LWIR Seeker (KW)
• Warhead: Exoatmospheric Hit-to-kill Kinetic Warhead (KW)
• Date deployed:

In December 2007, Japan conducted a successful test of the SM-3 block IA against a ballistic missile aboard JDS Kongō (DDG-173). This was the first time a Japanese ship was selected to launch the interceptor missile during a test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. In previous tests they provided tracking and communications.^[5][6].

The SM-6 ERAM (Extended Range Active Missile) is an under development upgraded version of the SM-2 designed to hit both aircraft and high performance cruise missiles. The missile combines the proven SM-2 airframe with a seeker from an AIM-120 AMRAAM missile. By utilizing the seeker from the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile, the SM-6 can offer the capability to hit targets outside the ships radar horizon, and therefore offer increased range as well as accuracy. The missile also takes advantage of both the SM-2 and AIM-120 AMRAAM's datalinking capability, and because it requires very little development is expected to be inexpensive to procure.

During the Iraq Iran War the United States has deployed Standard Missiles to protect its Navy as well as other ships in the Persian Gulf from Iranian attacks. According to the Iranian Airforce their F-4 Phantom IIs were engaged by SM-2ERs but managed evade them, with one aircraft sustaining non-fatal damage due to shrapnel.^[7]

On April 18, 1988, during Operation Praying Mantis USS Simpson (FFG-56) fired four Standard missiles and USS Wainwright (CG-28) fired two Standard missiles at Joshan, an Iranian (Combattante II) Kaman-class fast attack craft. The attacks destroyed the Iranian ship's superstructure but did not immediately sink it.

On July 3, 1988, USS Vincennes (CG-49) shot down Iran Air Flight 655, an Airbus A300B2, using two SM-2MR missiles from her forward launcher,^[8] killing 290 people. The aircraft was apparently mistaken for an Iranian F-14.

• Friedman, Norman. Modern Warship: Design and Development. Naval Institute Press. 1977. ISBN 0-8317-6082-6

• Raytheon Standard missile website, mfr of Standard missiles
• RIM-66 Standard MR
• RIM-67 Standard ER
• RIM-156 Standard SM-2ER Block IV
• RIM-161 Standard SM-3
• US completes first terminal descent ballistic missile intercept Extract of article (May 2006) describing SM-2 Block IV intercept of ballistic missile