Washington DC (Washington Insider Magazine) — The RIM-174 Standard (ERAM), is a missile that is in current production for the United States Navy. It was developed to manage extended-range anti-air warfare (ER-AAW) purposes and provides the capability to work against fixed and rotary-wing aircraft. It can be equipped on unmanned aerial vehicles and several other anti-ship cruise missiles in flight. The missile can be sued both over the sea and on land. It is used as a ballistic missile defense and can be operated as a high-speed anti-ship missile.
Description Of RIM-174 Standard ERAM
RIM-174 Standard ERAM uses the airframe of the earlier SM-2ER Block IV (RIM-156A) missile. The terminal ballistic missile defense missile is an active radar that was taken from the previously developed AIM-120C AMRAAM. The semi-active seeker of the previous design improved the capability of the Standard missile.
The weapons and vehicles can be equipped with this missile and it can work well against highly agile targets and can target an effective range of launching. The Initial operating capability of this missile was tested in 2013 but the objective was later achieved on 27 November 2013. The SM-6 will not be replacing the SM-2 series of missiles because it will not provide an extended range and increased firepower. The missile was approved for operation in January 2017.
Specifications
- Mass: 3,300 lb (1,500 kg)
- Length: 21.5 ft (6.6 m)
- Diameter: 13.5 in (0.34 m) for Block IA 21 in (0.53 m) for Block IB
- Warhead: 140 lb (64 kg) blast fragmentation
- Detonation mechanism: Radar and contact fuze
- Engine: Two Stage: Solid rocket booster, solid rocket booster/sustainer
- Wingspan: 61.8 in (1.57 m)
- Operational range: 130 nmi (150 mi; 240 km)
- Flight ceiling: >110,000 ft (34,000 m)
- Maximum speed: Mach 3.5 (2,664.2 mph; 4,287.7 km/h; 1.2 km/s)
- Guidance system Inertial guidance: terminal active and semi-active radar homing
- Launch Platform: Surface ship
Buyers
The current operators of the RIM-174 Standard ERAM are as follows:
- United States United States
- United States Navy
- Japan: Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
- Australia: Australia Royal Australian Navy
- South Korea: South Korea Republic of Korea Navy
Recent Use In Battlefield
In January 2016, the SM-6 was developed with powerful features. The medium-range ballistic missile has maximum down range and maximum cross-range intercepts and can run over the horizon. This missile can engage in remote missions that are supported by CEC. The surface ship missile will break the previous maximum engagement and this record was set in June 2014.
Almost Five targets were shot down in the test, and this proved that the missile’s capability can exceed the missiles developed previously. The rocket motor equipped with the missile could hit multiple target scenarios and sunk the decommissioned USS Reuben James on 18 January 2016. This missile has all the anti-ship and this is when Raytheon announced that the SM-6 will be able to achieve the longest surface-to-air intercept and will play an important role in the battlefield games.
On 14 December 2016, the Missile Defense Agency launched two successful SM-6 Dual I missiles. Air-to-air missiles like this one can work with the “complex, medium-range ballistic missile target”, and prove that the explosive missile can hit and kill the warhead. This missile was capable of defeating medium-range ballistic missile threats. It has also the ability to enable it to counter Chinese DF-21D and DF-26B and combat the anti-ship ballistic cruise missile target.
In August 2017, the Missile Defense Agency conducted held a test of a medium-range ballistic missile and it was launched at the USS John Paul Jones. The terminal phase of this missile is intercepted by the target from the Pacific Missile Range Facility. This missile was tested during the terminal phase of its flight and this test marked the third successful intercept.
In April 2021, USS John Finn operated the SM-6 and strike the surface targets to simulate the naval target. A Super Hornet was photographed which carried the SM-6 on a flight. On 27 May 2021, the Russian Navy ship Kareliya (SSV-535), successfully intercepted the missile during the auxiliary general intelligence (AGI). The missile landed near the Pacific Missile Range Facility, which caused the delay of the Flight Test Aegis Weapon System. The battlefield 2042 might see this missile being launched.
FAQS
1. What Is The Purpose Of RIM-174 Standard ERAM?
The Standard ERAM is a two-stage missile that is equipped with a booster stage and a second stage. It looks similar to the RIM-156A Standard missile. The radar seeker of this missile has been adapted from the AIM-120C AMRAAM seeker.
2. How Is RIM-174 Standard ERAM Employed?
RIM-174 Standard ERAM can be employed in several modes. It is initially guided to target the terminal acquisition. It uses the active radar seeker and a semi-active radar to hit a target over-the-horizon
3. What Is RIM-174 Standard ERAM Capable Of?
Cruise missiles are capable of terminal ballistic missile defense. It can be used as a supplement to Standard Missile 3 (RIM-161). It is different from the other missiles that belong to the Standard family. The cooperative engagement capability of the Standard ERAM can be tested and certified without needing the vertical launching system.
4. What Is The Extended Range Of RIM-174 Standard ERAM?
The extended range of RIM-174 Standard ERAM is intercepted at a very high altitude. It is a sea-skimming anti-ship missile, that is also capable of performing the terminal phase ballistic missile defense and fighting any battle pass. This missile functions as a high-speed anti-ship missile.
5. What Is RIM-174 Standard ERAM Made Of?
The multi-mission SM-6 is equipped with the aerodynamics of an SM-2. It has a propulsion booster stack and comes with a front-end configuration. This missile estimates the SM-6’s long range and has a varied range of 130 nmi. The range could be anywhere between 200 nmi (230 mi; 370 km) and can reach as much as 250 nmi (290 mi; 460 km).
Read More: RIM-161 Standard Missile 3: Specifications, Buyers & Recent Use In Battlefield
6. What Is The Cost Of RIM-174 Standard ERAM?
The Manufacturer of RIM-174 Standard ERAM is Raytheon. The Unit cost of this missile is around US$4.87m, (US$8,766.6m for 1800), US$4,318,632 (FY2021) (average). It was produced in September 2009 and 1,800 of these missiles have been planned. The full rate production of this missile may exceed the 1,800 mark as well.
