During the U.S. Navy’s Combat Ship System Qualification Trials, the USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) tested two Raytheon Company Standard Missile-6 interceptors against anti-ship and cruise missile targets.
As part of ‘engage on remote’ scenarios, the ship launched the SM-6 interceptors prior to its own radars ‘seeing’ the incoming threats, using targeting information from another Aegis ship in the area—the USS Sampson (DDG 102).
The first SM-6 intercepted a low-altitude, short-range supersonic target (GQM-163A), while the second intercepted a low-altitude, medium-range subsonic target (BQM-74E).
Mike Campisi, Standard Missile-6 senior program director, said:
Advanced warning and cueing from another sensor or ship allows the U.S. Navy to take full advantage of SM-6’s over-the-horizon capability.
Now the warfighter does not have to wait until the threat is knocking at the door to take it out. Targets are destroyed much sooner and one ship can defend a much larger area.
Deployed for the first time in December 2013, SM-6 provides the U.S. Navy extended range protection against fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles.
Press release, Image: Raytheon