Standard Missile Discussion

[Sferrin]

What is this video supposed to be about?

Looks like a generic SM-2/6 video. Or did you mean more specifically?

 

[kqcke for you]

https://aviationweek.com/defense/mi...op-grumman-test-fires-new-mk-72-motor-us-navy

 

[Forest Green]

https://aviationweek.com/defense/mi...op-grumman-test-fires-new-mk-72-motor-us-navy

I wonder if this is the 22inch SMASH!22 motor mentioned here:
Post#210
https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/raytheon-rim-161-sm-3-news-development.24767/post-859931

 

[TomS]

I wonder if this is the 22inch SMASH!22 motor mentioned here:
Post#210
https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/raytheon-rim-161-sm-3-news-development.24767/post-859931

Nope. This one looks to match the shape of the existing 21-inch Mk 72. It is shorter than the SMASH motor and has a rounded front end.

 

[Forest Green]

Nope. This one looks to match the shape of the existing 21-inch Mk 72. It is shorter than the SMASH motor and has a rounded front end.

So what is the SMASH!22 for? Or is it just a demonstrator/R&D?

 

[TomS]

So what is the SMASH!22 for? Or is it just a demonstrator/R&D?

It looks to be a proof of concept rather than a specific application.

 

[kqcke for you]

It looks to be a proof of concept rather than a specific application.

Yes it was a proof of concept(s)/ technology demonstrators tho if performance is right it doesn't seem unlikely to come in the future

 

[kqcke for you]

Yes it was a proof of concept(s)/ technology demonstrators tho if performance is right it doesn't seem unlikely to come in the future

Because its part of the SMART Demo programm
https://www.northropgrumman.com/what-we-do/events/smart-demo

 

[Forest Green]

Northrop Grumman Corporation was awarded a $94.3 million contract by the U.S. Navy to develop and qualify a new 21-inch diameter second-stage solid rocket motor (SSRM) for the Navy’s extended-range missile programs to deter and defeat fast-moving air, surface and hypersonic threats.
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-new...-for-second-stage-solid-rocket-motor-program/
Sounds like this could be going on the SM-3/6 and GPI.

 

[Sferrin]

Northrop Grumman Corporation was awarded a $94.3 million contract by the U.S. Navy to develop and qualify a new 21-inch diameter second-stage solid rocket motor (SSRM) for the Navy’s extended-range missile programs to deter and defeat fast-moving air, surface and hypersonic threats.
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-new...-for-second-stage-solid-rocket-motor-program/
Sounds like this could be going on the SM-3/6 and GPI.

Thought there was talk of the 21" SM-6 getting cancelled?

 

[kqcke for you]

Thought there was talk of the 21" SM-6 getting cancelled?

Tho the engine was still developted independent of the halt

 

[Sferrin]

Tho the engine was still developted independent of the halt

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-new...hypersonic-program-halted-in-strategic-pause/

 

[Forest Green]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2014131000683483315

View: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/2014131000683483315?s=20

 

[Forest Green]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2017224593140851064

View: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/2017224593140851064?s=20

 

[Forest Green]

Raytheon partners with US Department of War to expand critical munition production​

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-new...f-war-to-expand-critical-munition-production/

Raytheon entered into five landmark framework agreements with the U.S. Department of War to significantly increase production capacity and speed deliveries of Land Attack and Maritime Strike variants of Tomahawk, AMRAAM missiles, Standard Missile-3 Block IB interceptors (SM-3 IB), Standard Missile-3 Block IIA interceptors (SM-3 IIA), and Standard Missile-6 (SM-6).

Applicable to multiple threads but leaving here:
A

 

[Forest Green]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2020842500856918493

View: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/2020842500856918493?s=20

 

[Forest Green]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2024450185552626086

View: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/2024450185552626086?s=20

 

[missile_man]

The missile ramp up across the entire spectrum is insane.

 

[Forest Green]

Navy continues to invest in second solid-rocket motor source through spending plan​

https://insidedefense.com/daily-new...lid-rocket-motor-source-through-spending-plan

 

[NMaude]

Once that second-source SRM line is in place that will help speed up the annual SM-3/6 production rates.

 

[Forest Green]

Defense companies to quadruple production of ‘exquisite’ weapons: Trump​

https://breakingdefense.com/2026/03...druple-production-of-exquisite-weapons-trump/

 

[zjz]

SM-3 Block IA Missile Hazard Assessment
https://www.scribd.com/document/56966235/Hazard-Assesment-Testing-for-SM3-BlockIA-Missile

 

[Forest Green]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2032468310084743218

View: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/2032468310084743218?s=20

 

[zjz]

There is some info on the Mk 72 in this "History of CSD's Solid Propulsion Innovations" article :

https://www.scribd.com/document/794781004/pioneers-in-propulsion-final

 

[Forest Green]

U.S. Navy Seeks Over 600 Surface-to-Air Missiles in Budget Request​

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-new...00-surface-to-air-missiles-in-budget-request/

Stated in the Fiscal Year 2027 budget request, the United States Navy desires funds required to purchase 136 RIM-161D Standard Missile 3 Block IIAs (SM-3IIA) and 540 RIM-174 Standard Missile 6s (SM-6), for a total of 676 Standard Missile series naval interceptors.

 

[Forest Green]

The Netherlands is Considering AEGIS System For Future Air Defence Frigates​

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-new...aegis-system-for-future-air-defence-frigates/

 

[Forest Green]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2075669729726115909

View: https://x.com/GuyPlopsky/status/2075669729726115909?s=20

 

[Forest Green]

Australia whips together a hybrid air defense weapon​

https://www.defensenews.com/global/...a-whips-together-a-hybrid-air-defense-weapon/

This first-of-type integration, which successfully fired an SM-2 interceptor missile, offers an alternative to buying expensive Patriot-type air defense systems, for example.

 

[TomS]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2020842500856918493

View: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/2020842500856918493?s=20

Don't think I'd realized that the booster in the SM-3 Block IIA (and presumably SM-6 Block IB) is NOT a normal Mk 72. At very least the interface to the main missile is different, but it looks like it also has different nozzles.

 

[Josh_TN]

Good catch. Is that the 21” SRM Northrop/Orbital were working on?

 

[Cjc]

Not sure this is the right thread for this but the navy seems to be planning the next generation of standard missiles.
https://aviationweek.com/defense/mi...als-details-standard-missile-replacement-plan

 

[missile_man]

The Netherlands is Considering AEGIS System For Future Air Defence Frigates​

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-new...aegis-system-for-future-air-defence-frigates/

Good. We need more Skynet operators.

 

[TomS]

Not sure this is the right thread for this but the navy seems to be planning the next generation of standard missiles.
https://aviationweek.com/defense/mi...als-details-standard-missile-replacement-plan

We have a thread for NMM.

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/naval-modular-missile-program-nmm.49694/

 

[MadRat]

NMM sounds more like a shakeup of a vendor monopoly more than anything. It doesn't seem to threaten Standard SM-2 dominance in the short term.

Zumwalt's PVLS needs further development for frigates and destroyers. The current form has room for 7.9 meter weapons, which is a substantial space. PVLS is a great evolution and should have a variant for shorter missiles. Maybe RTX should do sort of an SM-3L (L = Lite) to cut down reliance on SM-2 variations and counter NMM. SM-3L would be specifically designed around a shorter PVLS system for smaller vessels. The shorter PVLS could house a single SM-3L, two SM-2, or a quad pack of ESSM. But of course RTX would lobby for only SM-3L to simplify logistics for the Navy.