via Raytheon Press Release.
In the longest range surface-to-air intercept of its kind in naval history, a Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) Standard Missile-6 successfully destroyed an over-the-horizon, threat target.This press release is a bit frustrating. They talked alot but said very little. Over the horizon is relative. If you're standing at the top of Mount Everest then OTH is 209 miles. If you're a U-2 pilot flying at 70,000 feet its 324 miles.
The mission also demonstrated the combat capabilities that SM-6 brings to Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air, an effort designed to link U.S. Navy ships and airborne sensors into a single network via Cooperative Engagement Capability. The SM-6 was fired from the USS Princeton (CG59), a U.S. Navy Cruiser equipped with the latest Aegis baseline 9 combat system.
The active radar and extended range of the 'smart missile' allow it to track and destroy over-the-horizon targets, out of sight of operators on deck.
"The multi-mission SM-6 is in a class of its own as it demonstrates its ability to go further, faster and counter more threats to offer maximum mission flexibility," said Mike Campisi, Standard Missile-6 senior program director. "The missile's ability to defend against so many different threats makes it the go-to solution to meet modern fleet defense needs across the globe."
This is not the first time that SM-6 has shattered its own distance record. The missile broke the previous long-range intercept record in January of this year, a milestone it set itself in June of 2014.
SM-6 provides U.S. Navy vessels with extended-range protection against fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles in the terminal phase of flight, and an offensive capability against surface targets.
So while this sounds fantastic we still don't know if the Navy has a credible tool to deal with threat supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles.
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