Ship-killer, missile shield, air-to-air weapon: Why SM-6 is America's 'three-in-one' missile
The US Navy collaborated with the UK's Royal Navy and Air Force to sink the frigate Klakring. This exercise tested munitions such as the SM-6 missile and improved interoperability between the forces. Data collected from the Klakring will contribute to future weapon designs and strategies. The exercise featured various naval and aerial assets, enhancing operational readiness. Notable developments…
The decommissioned US Navy guided-missile frigate Klakring met its demise in the North Atlantic as part of Exercise Atlantic Thunder 2026, used to test the SM-6 missile's outer range limits. This multi-purpose exercise also involved the UK's Royal Navy and Air Force, showcasing the missile's versatility.
The final act of the exercise saw a Mk 48 torpedo launched from the Virginia-class submarine Massachusetts, demonstrating the missile's potential in underwater warfare. Other participants included HMS Portland from the Royal Navy, P-8 maritime patrol aircraft from both nations, and US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles.
The SM-6 missile, originally designed as an extended-range replacement for the SM-2 series, has evolved into a three-in-one system. It now serves as a ship-killer, ballistic missile shield, and air-to-air weapon. With an active radar homing system borrowed from the AIM-120 AMRAAM, it can track and neutralize agile targets, including anti-ship cruise missiles and ballistic missiles in their terminal phase.
Real-world tests have confirmed the SM-6's effectiveness. In December 2023, it intercepted three anti-ship ballistic missiles fired by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea by the USS Laboon. The missile also recorded its first public combat interception of a ballistic missile in the Gulf of Aden the following month. Moreover, it has been adapted for air-to-air use, renamed AIM-174 Gunslinger, and is currently being launched from the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and Army's Typhon launcher.
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