Standard Missile projects.

MDA with Navy July 24 tested SM-6 Dual II, fired four from Burke destroyer Ralph Johnson off Hawaii, presuming to test if effective in defending a carrier against the Chinese anti-carrier ballistic missiles DF-21 and 26

" one target was successfully intercepted. At this time, we cannot confirm the second target was destroyed"

Anyone know the difference between the SM-6 Dual I and Dual II?

From <https://www.mda.mil/news/21news0012.html>
 
MDA with Navy July 24 tested SM-6 Dual II, fired four from Burke destroyer Ralph Johnson off Hawaii, presuming to test if effective in defending a carrier against the Chinese anti-carrier ballistic missiles DF-21 and 26

" one target was successfully intercepted. At this time, we cannot confirm the second target was destroyed"

Anyone know the difference between the SM-6 Dual I and Dual II?

From <https://www.mda.mil/news/21news0012.html>
Would Dual II use the new 21” body?
 
Last week from the DTIC website I found this interesting test report of the fire-hazard testing of the SM3 Block-IA:
 

Attachments

  • Hazard Assessment Testing of the SM-3 Block IA Missile - 25 April 2007.pdf
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MDA with Navy July 24 tested SM-6 Dual II, fired four from Burke destroyer Ralph Johnson off Hawaii, presuming to test if effective in defending a carrier against the Chinese anti-carrier ballistic missiles DF-21 and 26

" one target was successfully intercepted. At this time, we cannot confirm the second target was destroyed"

Anyone know the difference between the SM-6 Dual I and Dual II?

From <https://www.mda.mil/news/21news0012.html>
Would Dual II use the new 21” body?

No, the 21-inch version is SM-6 Block 1B. SM-6 Dual II seems to be a simple upgrade of the Dual I version, which enabled both air and missile defense in a single missile.
 
MDA with Navy July 24 tested SM-6 Dual II, fired four from Burke destroyer Ralph Johnson off Hawaii, presuming to test if effective in defending a carrier against the Chinese anti-carrier ballistic missiles DF-21 and 26

" one target was successfully intercepted. At this time, we cannot confirm the second target was destroyed"

Anyone know the difference between the SM-6 Dual I and Dual II?

From <https://www.mda.mil/news/21news0012.html>
Would Dual II use the new 21” body?

No, the 21-inch version is SM-6 Block 1B. SM-6 Dual II seems to be a simple upgrade of the Dual I version, which enabled both air and missile defense in a single missile.
However I wonder if a 21" version of the SM-6 would be developed as it would not only have a much greater range it would have a larger warhead and more capable seeker due to a wider antenna and more volume for seeker-electronics.
 
MDA with Navy July 24 tested SM-6 Dual II, fired four from Burke destroyer Ralph Johnson off Hawaii, presuming to test if effective in defending a carrier against the Chinese anti-carrier ballistic missiles DF-21 and 26

" one target was successfully intercepted. At this time, we cannot confirm the second target was destroyed"

Anyone know the difference between the SM-6 Dual I and Dual II?

From <https://www.mda.mil/news/21news0012.html>
Would Dual II use the new 21” body?

No, the 21-inch version is SM-6 Block 1B. SM-6 Dual II seems to be a simple upgrade of the Dual I version, which enabled both air and missile defense in a single missile.
However I wonder if a 21" version of the SM-6 would be developed as it would not only have a much greater range it would have a larger warhead and more capable seeker due to a wider antenna and more volume for seeker-electronics.
Why put a larger warhead on it? That would just take away the range you got yourself with the larger motor.
 
MDA with Navy July 24 tested SM-6 Dual II, fired four from Burke destroyer Ralph Johnson off Hawaii, presuming to test if effective in defending a carrier against the Chinese anti-carrier ballistic missiles DF-21 and 26

" one target was successfully intercepted. At this time, we cannot confirm the second target was destroyed"

Anyone know the difference between the SM-6 Dual I and Dual II?

From <https://www.mda.mil/news/21news0012.html>
Would Dual II use the new 21” body?

No, the 21-inch version is SM-6 Block 1B. SM-6 Dual II seems to be a simple upgrade of the Dual I version, which enabled both air and missile defense in a single missile.
However I wonder if a 21" version of the SM-6 would be developed as it would not only have a much greater range it would have a larger warhead and more capable seeker due to a wider antenna and more volume for seeker-electronics.

It's already in development. It appears that the seeker will actually be unchanged, resulting in a sort of necked down shape. So improved kinematics but not a dramatically improved seeker.
 
It's already in development. It appears that the seeker will actually be unchanged, resulting in a sort of necked down shape.
Do you have a link to any information on this?
 
It's already in development. It appears that the seeker will actually be unchanged, resulting in a sort of necked down shape.
Do you have a link to any information on this?

The necked down configuration is speculation from the author, but seems plausible.

 
In the video they show some of the early Bumblebee test missiles, you may or may not be familiar with.

In the earliest stages, Bumblebee was launching Burner Test and Cobra Test Vehicles (BTV and CTV). These were ramjets of varying size, speed, and range used to perfect the ramjet design of the eventual operational missile.

Very early BTV
1627441548431.png

A later Cobra Test Vehicle

1627441519796.png

Once the basic concept of the ramjet missile was proven, concurrent development of a control system was started. The first missiles for this were the Control Test Vehicle (CTV) missiles. These were subsonic and tested various methods of powering control surfaces and guiding the missile.

1627441696090.png

From there a supersonic control test missile was developed (STV). This would prove so viable it became Terrier

1627441762500.png

There's a museum on Topsail Island, N Carolina dedicated to Bumblebee as this was where most of the testing occured.

1627441901724.png

Bumblebee also was the missile project that invented the necessary means to make a single large booster rocket using solid fuel viable. Allegany Ballistics Laboratory (ABL) did a massive project into developing the best geometry for how the fuel needed to be cast in the booster to maximize its thrust and burn time. Up to that point everybody was using multiple smaller booster rockets with the attendant problems of things like uneven thrust requiring either the missile was spun or that it had sufficient control that it could correct its trajectory for asymmetric thrust.
 
From there a supersonic control test missile was developed (STV). This would prove so viable it became Terrier
Ironic, isn't it? The most advanced shipborbe SAM was essentially born by accident.

I wonder, how would USN SAM developed if STV was made, say, with liquid-fuel rocket? And not suitable for conversion into missile? No Terrier, no Tartar, no Standard. What would be instead? More Talos, combined with Zeus/Arrow guided 8-inch shells?
 
From there a supersonic control test missile was developed (STV). This would prove so viable it became Terrier
Ironic, isn't it? The most advanced shipborbe SAM was essentially born by accident.

I wonder, how would USN SAM developed if STV was made, say, with liquid-fuel rocket? And not suitable for conversion into missile? No Terrier, no Tartar, no Standard. What would be instead? More Talos, combined with Zeus/Arrow guided 8-inch shells?
The USN in working on the earlier project Gorgon came to the conclusion pretty early on that shipboard missiles had to be solid fuel. Liquid fuel missiles were simply to volatile and dangerous for use onboard ships. Thus, all the early USN SAM projects--Little Joe (quick and dirty to get something operational now), Lark (a bit more sophisticated to get something that would work at a minimal level), and then Bumblebee (a properly thought out design that would really meet the necessary requirements) did not use liquid fuel. These three represent the USN's wartime SAM development programs.

When the war ended, Little Joe was cancelled except for launching already produced missiles. Lark continued limited testing and development, and Bumblebee became the Navy's primary program.

Bumblebee and Talos that came out of it used a ramjet (with reasonably safe kerosene / jet fuel) because it was, at the time, the only really practical means of getting a missile that could reach out to 10 + miles (the original requirement) and 35,000 feet. That goal was exceeded by late 1944 (these were supersonic going about Mach 1.5) and it was obvious that a ramjet powered SAM could go a lot further.
Compare that to what the Germans were doing in SAM development...

An interesting aside was that Bumblebee created a need for a large supersonic wind tunnel for testing but none existed in the US at the time. One of the first large ones was created at what is now Lone Star Steel / US Steel Tubular Products near Daingerfield Texas and remained in operation into the 70's, mostly under the control of NASA.

The STV program moved to what is now China Lake and Pt. Mugu in California for development as they had longer range instrumented ranges than the 10 to 12 mile one set up at Topsail Island. A worry with firing at Topsail Island as the range of missile shots grew was that one might hit coastal shipping by accident. Thus a motivation for the move.
 
Thus, all the early USN SAM projects--Little Joe (quick and dirty to get something operational now), Lark (a bit more sophisticated to get something that would work at a minimal level), and then Bumblebee (a properly thought out design that would really meet the necessary requirements) did not use liquid fuel
Er... Lark was liquid-fuel powered.
 
Thus, all the early USN SAM projects--Little Joe (quick and dirty to get something operational now), Lark (a bit more sophisticated to get something that would work at a minimal level), and then Bumblebee (a properly thought out design that would really meet the necessary requirements) did not use liquid fuel
Er... Lark was liquid-fuel powered.
And, that was one of its downfalls. Lark is contemporary with Gorgon in many respects too. One interesting aspect of Gorgon was it was the project that made the first attempt to use an Air-to-air missile against a flying target. The guidance was CLOS using a television camera and it was found the operator couldn't control the missile due to the closing speed with the target. Thus, the need for radar guidance was solidified.
 
More Talos,
The end goal of project Bumblebee WAS the Talos missile.
The end goal was a working SAM system for shipboard use that could--at least initially when Bumblebee started--could reliably take down an aircraft at 10 miles up to 35,000 feet. Bumblebee was a huge Navy program at the time. It resulted in many advances in missile design that are still in use today.
 
Here's a patent from Thiokol to do with the SM3's Mk-136 TSRM and manufacture:
 

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  • US5600946-Solid propellant dual pulse rocket motor loaded case and ignition system and method ...pdf
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Video describing the various aspects of the off-range launch, control, and evaluation of the high performance AQM-37C(EP) Target to be engaged by SM-2 Block IV over White Sands Missile Range. Video developed by George Helfrich and produced by JHU APL, 22 July 1992. Provides a description of how the target was to be launched from a Navy F-4 aircraft at a speed of Mach 1.5 and an altitude of 50,000 ft. over Albuquerque NM and then climb and accelerate to desired speed and altitude for intercept over White Sands Missile Range.
4 mach Baby
 
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Video describing the various aspects of the off-range launch, control, and evaluation of the high performance AQM-37C(EP) Target to be engaged by SM-2 Block IV over White Sands Missile Range. Video developed by George Helfrich and produced by JHU APL, 22 July 1992. Provides a description of how the target was to be launched from a Navy F-4 aircraft at a speed of Mach 1.5 and an altitude of 50,000 ft. over Albuquerque NM and then climb and accelerate to desired speed and altitude for intercept over White Sands Missile Range.
4 mach Baby
Very interesting! It's clear that the missile launched was a Block IV SM-2 also I wonder how many F-4N's are left since the video was made as most of the surviving ones after retirement in the mid-80s were expended as QF-4N missile-targets.
 
I wonder how many F-4N's are left since the video was made as most of the surviving ones after retirement in the mid-80s were expended as QF-4N missile-targets

on the AMARC fields no one F-4N today

34.jpg

 
it is hard to believe sm series for ata because they are too heavy and make bad impact for maneuverability. it makes sense only when it would be used for MD or intercept mission.

otherwise, it will be used for strike purpose, sm6 regarded as antiship missile.
 
Need help with ID'ing the attached rocket motor..

It's included in a Navy document linked below that also provides some background on the 21" SM-6 1B SRM development. The Navy completed the development/prototyping in about 9 months and owns the TB package for the system which I guess opens up other future potential uses as well.


The document also references a "Special Capability Pod" for the Growler, that I haven't seen mentioned elsewhere. Other notable references include Navy's support to 2 USAF/DARPA hypersonic "live-fire tests" in 2020 which I'm also having some difficulty attributing to a specific program that may have had those test activities in 2020 (previous DOD statements had claimed that the planned 2020 flight tests were all delayed and moved to 2021 or beyond).
 

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Interesting chart here, showing the potential targets of the various major ship-launched missiles in the USN inventory.

To me, the unexpected revelation here is that SM-6 Block 1B, the new version with 21-inch propulsion stack, is shown as strictly an ASuW weapon. Maybe just matter of doctrine? (SM-6 Blk IA will do everything necessary in the AAW role)

Edit: It appears I owe this PowerPoint jockey an apology: https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/standard-missile-projects.7671/page-4#post-343886

(Smaller revelation is that they don't consider RAM or ESSM to have ASuW capability, despite HAS being a thing since the late 1990s. Could also be a doctrinal rather than technical choice.)


1643641144923.png
 
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To me, the unexpected revelation here is that SM-6 Block 1B, the new version with 21-inch propulsion stack, is shown as strictly an ASuW weapon. Maybe just matter of doctrine? (SM-6 Blk IA will do everything necessary in the AAW role)

The Navy has been consistent in this in its graphics on the program. I think this will be a much faster weapon capable of lofting a lot higher than the SM-61A and as such will be an extended range strike weapon. Could they use the same motor as an upgrade to the SM-61A? Probably and perhaps that could be one path they take towards hypersonic defense.
 

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To me, the unexpected revelation here is that SM-6 Block 1B, the new version with 21-inch propulsion stack, is shown as strictly an ASuW weapon. Maybe just matter of doctrine? (SM-6 Blk IA will do everything necessary in the AAW role)

The Navy has been consistent in this in its graphics on the program. I think this will be a much faster weapon capable of lofting a lot higher than the SM-61A and as such will be an extended range strike weapon. Could they use the same motor as an upgrade to the SM-61A? Probably and perhaps that could be one path they take towards hypersonic defense.

Makes sense. I wonder whether there's an actual technical reason you couldn't shoot one at an aircraft target? Like is there not enough control authority from of the fins to steer a much heavier missile against a maneuvering target? Or is it just a doctrinal issue of not wanting to waste very scarce Block IB rounds on air targets when Block I/IA will achieve the same thing?
 
Video describing the various aspects of the off-range launch, control, and evaluation of the high performance AQM-37C(EP) Target to be engaged by SM-2 Block IV over White Sands Missile Range. Video developed by George Helfrich and produced by JHU APL, 22 July 1992. Provides a description of how the target was to be launched from a Navy F-4 aircraft at a speed of Mach 1.5 and an altitude of 50,000 ft. over Albuquerque NM and then climb and accelerate to desired speed and altitude for intercept over White Sands Missile Range.
4 mach Baby
Or Mach 5:

In 1981, the U.S. Navy modified 10 AQM-37As under the Challenger program with a refined high-g autopilot, and enlarged heat-resistant tail surfaces, to allow for higher speed, altitude and manoeuverability. These features were incorporated into the AQM-37C, which was delivered to the Navy from 1986 onwards. The AQM-37C has a radio command control system, which allows changes in the flight path after launch, including a terminal dive at a controlled dive angle. It also features a digital autopilot, and improved radar augmentation in four different frequency bands. Some of the latest AQM-37Cs have further improved heat insulation, and can also be used to simulate ballistic missile threats, being able to fly ballistic trajectories to an altitude of 100 km (330000 ft) and a range of 425 km (265 miles), with terminal speeds of Mach 5.

 
To me, the unexpected revelation here is that SM-6 Block 1B, the new version with 21-inch propulsion stack, is shown as strictly an ASuW weapon. Maybe just matter of doctrine? (SM-6 Blk IA will do everything necessary in the AAW role)

The Navy has been consistent in this in its graphics on the program. I think this will be a much faster weapon capable of lofting a lot higher than the SM-61A and as such will be an extended range strike weapon. Could they use the same motor as an upgrade to the SM-61A? Probably and perhaps that could be one path they take towards hypersonic defense.

Makes sense. I wonder whether there's an actual technical reason you couldn't shoot one at an aircraft target? Like is there not enough control authority from of the fins to steer a much heavier missile against a maneuvering target? Or is it just a doctrinal issue of not wanting to waste very scarce Block IB rounds on air targets when Block I/IA will achieve the same thing?
Or different guidance system. I'm more surprised it doesn't have anti-missile capability. I thought that was the whole point of the bigger booster - more oomph for the more difficult targets. :confused:
 
Or different guidance system. I'm more surprised it doesn't have anti-missile capability. I thought that was the whole point of the bigger booster - more oomph for the more difficult targets. :confused:

I thought the seeker and warhead are the same as Block 1A, hence the necked-down fuselage.
 
The warhead is not shared with the 1A and is apparently optimized for the variant. Interestingly, Aviation Week cites Hondo Guerts as claiming that the weapon will retain other missions of the SM-6 family. It may well be that the Navy set up the current program so that they develop the new motor and warhead, control surface and other modifications to deal with the higher speed, and then test it out in the ASuW capacity before operationalizing it. Perhaps other capabilities will be developed and qualified over time with the current acquisition focusing solely on the surface warfare role. This will likely be a $5+ million AUR so not sure you want to go after cruise missiles etc with it.

 
The warhead is not shared with the 1A and is apparently optimized for the variant. Interestingly, Aviation Week cites Hondo Guerts as claiming that the weapon will retain other missions of the SM-6 family. It may well be that the Navy set up the current program so that they develop the new motor and warhead, control surface and other modifications to deal with the higher speed, and then test it out in the ASuW capacity before operationalizing it. Perhaps other capabilities will be developed and qualified over time with the current acquisition focusing solely on the surface warfare role. This will likely be a $5+ million AUR so not sure you want to go after cruise missiles etc with it.


Assuming this weapon really is SM-6 Blk 1B and not some other, previously undisclosed, program. That may not be a safe assumption.
 
Video describing the various aspects of the off-range launch, control, and evaluation of the high performance AQM-37C(EP) Target to be engaged by SM-2 Block IV over White Sands Missile Range. Video developed by George Helfrich and produced by JHU APL, 22 July 1992. Provides a description of how the target was to be launched from a Navy F-4 aircraft at a speed of Mach 1.5 and an altitude of 50,000 ft. over Albuquerque NM and then climb and accelerate to desired speed and altitude for intercept over White Sands Missile Range.
4 mach Baby
Or Mach 5:

In 1981, the U.S. Navy modified 10 AQM-37As under the Challenger program with a refined high-g autopilot, and enlarged heat-resistant tail surfaces, to allow for higher speed, altitude and manoeuverability. These features were incorporated into the AQM-37C, which was delivered to the Navy from 1986 onwards. The AQM-37C has a radio command control system, which allows changes in the flight path after launch, including a terminal dive at a controlled dive angle. It also features a digital autopilot, and improved radar augmentation in four different frequency bands. Some of the latest AQM-37Cs have further improved heat insulation, and can also be used to simulate ballistic missile threats, being able to fly ballistic trajectories to an altitude of 100 km (330000 ft) and a range of 425 km (265 miles), with terminal speeds of Mach 5.

You mean they can drop a high speed missile from an aircraft and it works?

Hey ARRW engineers are you paying attention? ;)
 
Interesting chart here, showing the potential targets of the various major ship-launched missiles in the USN inventory.

To me, the unexpected revelation here is that SM-6 Block 1B, the new version with 21-inch propulsion stack, is shown as strictly an ASuW weapon. Maybe just matter of doctrine? (SM-6 Blk IA will do everything necessary in the AAW role)

Edit: It appears I owe this PowerPoint jockey an apology: https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/standard-missile-projects.7671/page-4#post-343886

(Smaller revelation is that they don't consider RAM or ESSM to have ASuW capability, despite HAS being a thing since the late 1990s. Could also be a doctrinal rather than technical choice.)


View attachment 673305
What is CPS? It looks like the Hypersonic Velocity Projectile.
 
What is CPS? It looks like the Hypersonic Velocity Projectile.

CPS really should be IR-CPS, which is Intermediate Range Conventional Prompt Strike. It's a missile that is being codeveloped with the US Army, which calls their version the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon. The warhead shown in that slide is the Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB). Similar in shape to HVP, but not the same at all, and substantially larger.

1643922012372.png
 
What is CPS? It looks like the Hypersonic Velocity Projectile.

CPS really should be IR-CPS, which is Intermediate Range Conventional Prompt Strike. It's a missile that is being codeveloped with the US Army, which calls their version the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon. The warhead shown in that slide is the Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB). Similar in shape to HVP, but not the same at all, and substantially larger.

View attachment 673458
The CPS booster looks like a stretched Trident II.
 
What is CPS? It looks like the Hypersonic Velocity Projectile.

CPS really should be IR-CPS, which is Intermediate Range Conventional Prompt Strike. It's a missile that is being codeveloped with the US Army, which calls their version the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon. The warhead shown in that slide is the Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB). Similar in shape to HVP, but not the same at all, and substantially larger.

View attachment 673458
The CPS booster looks like a stretched Trident II.
Trident is 83" in diameter.
 

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