Country: United States Of America
Service Type: Yes
Missile Type: surface to air missile
Washington DC (Washington Insider Magazine) — The RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) is a ship-based surface-to-air missile system. It is used by the United States Navy. It is one of the most powerful intercept short- and intermediate-range ballistic missile that has become a part of Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. This missile has been primarily designed as an anti-ballistic missile. The SM-3 has been employed as an anti-satellite capacity and has works against a satellite at the lower Earth orbit. It is primarily used and tested by the United States Navy and was also operated by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Specifications
Mass: 1.5 t
Length: 6.55 m (21 ft 6 in)
Diameter: 34.3 cm (13.5 in) for Block I missiles-53.3 cm (21 in) for Block II
Warhead: Lightweight Exo-Atmospheric Projectile (LEAP) kinetic warhead
Operational range: Block IA/B: 900 – 1200 km (560 miles)
Block IIA: 1,200 km range and flight ceiling 900 – 1,050 km
Maximum speed: 3 km/s (Mach 8.8) Block IA/B 4.5 km/s (Mach 13.2) Block IIA[4]
Guidance system: GPS/INS/semi-active radar homing/passive LWIR infrared homing seeker (KW)
Buyers
Japan
South Korea — Ordered in October 2018.
United States
Potential operators
Netherlands: is planning to buy SM-3 missiles. They want to use the missile as the De Zeven Provinciën class frigates and want to make it a part of the Defensienota 2022.
Turkey: Turkey is s considering the SM-3s as they want to use it for their upcoming the TF-2000 frigate program. The country plans on integrating a more advanced version of the HAVELSAN’s Genesis architecture.
Belgium: Belgium is considering to have SM-3 missiles as they want to equip it with their two new frigates. This will provide their ships the best shooter capabilities within the NATO BMD. Belgium and the Netherlands will be buying the 4 new frigates.
Recent Use In Battlefield
On August 31, 2022, the Japan Ministry of Defense revealed that they will be operating the two “Aegis system equipped ships. This missile will replace the earlier plan of Aegis Ashore installations and will get upgrades by the end of fiscal year 2027. The country will be upgrade the missile and will change the design.
The construction for the upgraded missile will begin the following year of FY2024. Japan has used 20,000 tons each, that has the largest surface combatant warships. This missile is operated by the JMSDF, and it will be the largest deployable surface warships operating in the world.
On 16 November 2022, the guided-missile fired an SM-3 Block IIA missile. It was successful in intercepting the target that is outside the atmosphere. During the first launch of the missile this missile was used with the Japanese warship. On 18 November 2022, the Haguro fired an SM-3 Block IB missile and made a successful hit outside the atmosphere.
The missile fire was conducted at the Pacific Missile Range Facility and was targeted at the Kauai Island, Hawaii. The testing was done with the cooperation with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Missile Defense Agency.
On February 21, 2008 the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile took the USS Lake Erie and fired a single SM-3 missile. This was a successful hit and destroyed the satellite. It had a closing velocity of about 22,783 mph (36,667 km/h) and was 247 kilometers away. The USS Decatur, USS Russell were also hit by this missile on the land, air, sea and space-based sensors.
FAQS
1.How Many RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 Are There?
There are several basic variants of the SM-3 that are currently in service. Some of them are also under development. The following missile versions are under development: the SM-3 Block IA, IB, IB Threat Upgrade (TU), and the IIA. All are fired using the Mark 41 VLS.
2. How Fast Is RIM-161 Standard Missile 3?
The SM-3 interceptor is a powerful weapon that the U.S. Navy has used to destroy short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles. This interceptor has used a powerful force, and is an explosive warhead, that destroys the target.
3. How Much Does An SM-3 Missile Cost?
The SM-3 was used and tested by the United States Navy. It was operated by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force as well. The RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 unit cost around US$9–25 million in 2011. It cost around US$18.4m in FY2018 and US$11.83m in FY2021.
Read More: RIM-156A Standard: Specifications, Buyers & Recent Use In Battlefield
4. What Is The Altitude Of SM-3 Missile?
The “standard” range of the SM-3 Block IA is reported to be 600 and 160 km. It has the maximum speed of 3-3.5 km/s, and offers a kinetic impact energy and can hit the target of 125-130 mJ.
