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US Military's 'Groundbreaking' New Missile Reaches Milestone
Published Apr 03, 2024 at 3:04 PM EDT
Updated Apr 04, 2024 at 9:08 AM EDT
00:57
U.S. Navy Firepower Gathers In Western Pacific
By Jon Jackson
Associate Editor
FOLLOW
2
The U.S. Navy conducted a successful test of a cutting-edge missile
system last week, intercepting a ballistic missile target over the ocean
in "a groundbreaking advancement for naval defense," according to the
military news outlet Special Operations Forces Report (SOFREP).
SOFREP on Wednesday reported that the SM-6 missile, manufactured by the
U.S. defense contractor Raytheon, achieved a "significant milestone" on
March 29 when it "successfully intercepted a medium-range ballistic
missile target during a sea trial."
Though SM-6s have been in U.S. military service for over a decade, the
missile recently underwent a software upgrade that Raytheon touts as a
major enhancement for the weapon's capabilities.
The SM-6 has previously been tested half a dozen times against ballistic
missile targets, but the latest launch utilized what Raytheon dubbed the
Dual II (Block IA) configuration. The new SM-6 used in the trial also
featured tweaks to its aerodynamics and a bigger motor to increase its
range.
Following the test, Raytheon confirmed the updated SM-6 intercepted the
ballistic missile target in its terminal phase of flight, which SOFREP
wrote is "the most challenging portion of the trajectory to engage."
U.S. military performs an exercise in Hawaii
In this image handed out by the U.S. Navy, a threat representative
target is launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) on
November 6, 2007 in Kauai, Hawaii. A recent test by a Raytheon... More
PHOTO BY U.S. NAVY VIA GETTY IMAGES
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The SM-6 was already considered an advanced weapon, often called "three
missiles in one" due to its ability to strike anti-air warfare,
anti-surface warfare and ballistic missile defenses.
As SOFREP explained, SM-6s deployed on U.S. naval ships can extend
"crucial offensive and defensive capabilities over the horizon, meaning
it can engage hostile aircraft, ships and ballistic missiles at
significant distances."
Raytheon says that since SM-6s can support all three capabilities in one
package, it's a cost-effective defensive weapon for the Pentagon's arsenal.
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The March 29 test saw an SM-6 launched from the U.S. Navy's U.S.S.
Preble, a destroyer that's located at the Pacific Missile Range Facility
(PMRF) in Kauai, Hawaii.
"This test demonstrated that the latest versions of the SM-6 and combat
system provide the critical capability to destroy an incoming
sophisticated missile threat," Kim Ernzen, president of Raytheon Naval
Power, said in a statement.
"Raytheon is committed to ensuring our technology stays ahead of
evolving threats and is available to sailors as quickly as possible."
In its assessment, SOFREP wrote that the test "signifies a vital step
forward in ensuring the US Navy and its allies possess the necessary
firepower to counter modern ballistic missile threats."
"The ongoing development and successful testing of the SM-6 solidify its
position as a cornerstone of modern naval defense," the outlet added.
The test comes amid a growing number of threats to U.S. forces overseas,
both in the Middle East and the Eastern Pacific, where North Korea has
been launching a series of ballistic missile tests, including one this
week that could theoretically reach Guam, a U.S. territory in the
Pacific that's home to a major military installation.
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About the writer
Jon Jackson
FOLLOW
Jon Jackson is an Associate Editor at Newsweek based in New York. His
focus is on reporting on the Ukraine ... read more
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