Standard Missile projects.

[marauder2048]

Probably two-stage with a Mk 72 booster and a 21-inch missile on top of that.  No third stage, because you want to keep the secondary antiship function, which means a blast-frag warhead and plenty of mass.

Edit: it just dawned on me that the USN has to develop a new 21-inch motor for this because the second-stage motor in SM-3 BLK IIA is a Japanese development and probably can't be brought straight into an all-US SM-6 development effort.

Would the MOU/cooperative development agreement actually prohibit the use of the propulsion stack on a further SM derivative?
Curious if the Navy elects to expand the seeker aperture to the full-diameter.

[TomS]

Not sure specifically, but I'd guess it complicates things.  Japan is actually funding the BLK IIA second stage directly, so they may have some ownership rights over the design.  And the MOU only covers SM-3, so there might not be provisions for the US to use that Japanese-funded tech in a non SM-3 application.

[windingroad]

Sounds like they're looking to go full-caliber on SM-6.  Should be a pretty simple development effort, since there's already a 21-inch SRM for SM-3 Block 2A.  You might want a different thrust profile for SM-6, but the basics are already established.

Something like this or stick with 3 stages?  If the latter I'd be stuffing some KKVs in there.

the second pic looks really interesting, is this concept antiairkkv came from SACM/MHTK?

[Moose]

Probably two-stage with a Mk 72 booster and a 21-inch missile on top of that.  No third stage, because you want to keep the secondary antiship function, which means a blast-frag warhead and plenty of mass.

Edit: it just dawned on me that the USN has to develop a new 21-inch motor for this because the second-stage motor in SM-3 BLK IIA is a Japanese development and probably can't be brought straight into an all-US SM-6 development effort.

Partnering with Japan again would certainly seem to be an option, the present government there has been more open to this sort of cooperation anyway, just don't tell Mar-a-Lago the details about it. Producing the SM-3 motors under license or at having MHI set up a subsidiary in the US may also be options, if we need to get creative, though there are pitfalls to both. At this point, they're still in the "how much will this cost and what risks are there" phase so I guess we'll see how it shakes out.

[marauder2048]

I was revisiting P&W CSD's "High Performance Boost Propulsion for Navy Theater Missile Defense" where
they examined (and built for static firing) a 21-inch stage-two motor. 

The propellant (all boost) configuration and case configuration were geared towards
rather steep flight profiles/STOF and structural/thermal loads that seem much lower
than what SM-6 would experience.

Are there any details on SM-3 IIa's propulsion stack?

[sferrin]

Pretty sure that shot is from here around 6:07:

[marauder2048]

Yep. It's a still from that video.

[bring_it_on]

MDA exploring Aegis BMD for boost-phase intercept

The Missile Defense Agency is eying the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system to shoot down enemy long-range ballistic missile during the boost-phase of flight, a technically challenging gambit to add a new defensive layer against North Korean threats and reduce exclusive reliance on the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system to protect the United States.

MDA has identified a new project -- "Aegis Launch During Boost" -- to kickoff in fiscal year 2019. The Pentagon, however, did not fund the proposed effort in its FY-19 budget.

Still, MDA forwarded lawmakers a wish list of projects it would prioritize if Congress were inclined to increase missile defense funding in FY-19, including $15 million to explore using a combination of the Aegis BMD Weapon system and family of Standard Missile-3 guided missile interceptors, which are central to the Pentagon's regional ballistic missile defense mission, for a potential wider portfolio.

"MDA's mission is to explore defensive capabilities in all ranges of flight to include boost and ascent phase," MDA Director Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves told Inside Defense in an April 6 written statement. "These funds will be used to explore existing weapons capabilities, to include SM-3 variants capability in this range of flight," the three-star Air Force general said of the $15 million MDA has identified for the Aegis Launch During Boost project.

Boost-phase intercept weapons aim to incapacitate attacking missiles during the first few minutes of flight while enemy missile boosters are still burning and before any countermeasures are deployed. The Pentagon spent $5 billion over a decade on an Airborne Laser program that aimed to provide a boost-phase intercept capability before determining in 2009 the project was not feasible. MDA has recently resurrected the idea of an airborne laser capability for boost-phase intercept, exploring the potential for lasers on unmanned aircraft.

Were Congress to provide the additional funds for an Aegis boost-phase project, MDA would "initiate the engineering feasibility analysis and design work required in support of this capability," Greaves said. "Out-year funding would be required for engineering analysis, design, implementation and testing efforts in support of this operational capability, consistent with a software-intensive capability delivery."

Greaves declined to provide any details of prior work the agency has conducted exploring the potential for Aegis and boost-phase intercept other than to note "MDA has previously performed related feasibility analyses."

Last month, the MDA director told Congress the agency was exploring whether the Navy's newest ballistic missile interceptor -- the Standard Missile-3 Block IIA -- originally designed to intercept medium- and intermediate-range threats might extend its reach to strike intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Specifically, Greaves told the Senate Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee on March 22 that MDA "is evaluating the technical feasibility of the capability of the SM-3 Block IIA missile, currently under development, against an ICBM-class target."

The goal is to figure out whether Aegis BMD might "underlay" the GMD system and provide an additional band of defense against Pyongyang's long-range rocket ambitions. The Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act directed the agency to explore this possibility and lay plans for a test by 2020.

A 2004 report by the American Physical Society on Boost-Phase Intercept noted that sea-basing a notional boost-phase intercept capability would carry the advantages of being able to move interceptors to critical locations almost anywhere in the world when a conflict arises, and a system such as Aegis could remain on-station indefinitely.

[marauder2048]

Reprogramming for SM-6 BLK 1B.

[bobbymike]

From Inside Defense

Navy looking to dramatically increase range, speed of SM-6 with larger rocket motor

The Defense Department has launched a prototype project that aims to dramatically increase the speed and range of the Navy's Standard Missile-6 by adding a larger rocket motor to the ship-launched weapon, a move that aims to improve both the offensive and defensive reach of the Raytheon-built system.

[starviking]

The Defense Department has launched a prototype project that aims to dramatically increase the speed and range of the Navy's Standard Missile-6 by adding a larger rocket motor to the ship-launched weapon, a move that aims to improve both the offensive and defensive reach of the Raytheon-built system.

Ooo... Increased flexibility. Perfect for those South China Seas moments!

[TomS]

From Inside Defense

Navy looking to dramatically increase range, speed of SM-6 with larger rocket motor

The Defense Department has launched a prototype project that aims to dramatically increase the speed and range of the Navy's Standard Missile-6 by adding a larger rocket motor to the ship-launched weapon, a move that aims to improve both the offensive and defensive reach of the Raytheon-built system.

This is a full-caliber SM-6 with a 21-inch fuselage and motor, not the usual 13.5.  So basically the same change as SM-3 Block IIA. 

[Moose]

With a dual-thrust 21" stage, Block IB's going to have pretty excellent range.

[SpudmanWP]

That will be some serious OTH coverage for the fleet.   

[TomS]

That will be some serious OTH coverage for the fleet.   

Might help explain the USN's lack of serious interest in new long-rnage antiship cruise missiles -- if you've got a ballistic rock like this to throw, there aren't many naval forces that can deal with more than a couple of them inbound.