Standard Missile Discussion

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.
 
Forest Green said:
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.
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Thought there was talk of the 21" SM-6 getting cancelled?
 

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).
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Applicable to multiple threads but leaving here: 1770304213261.png
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Good catch. Is that the 21” SRM Northrop/Orbital were working on?
 
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.
 
Forest Green said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/2106649761285656925
View: https://x.com/navalnewscom/status/2106649761285656925?s=20
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The Raytheon press release doesn't say anything, but this would be around 5,000 missiles at the current prices near $5 million each. This should replace everything that's been fired so far out of the original order for 1,800 missiles, build the Navy's stockpiles well beyond the current levels, and give the Army enough to start arming their Typhon launchers and carrying around plenty of reloads. It could be enough to allow the Army to start using SM-6s as ultra long range GBAD missiles if they can be worked into IBCS, but I doubt there are enough Typhon launchers for that to be a priority.
 
MadRat said:
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.
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Mk57 is a dead end. There are too many mk41s to try to accommodate any other size.
 
What are the odds that Raytheon will have to set up a second SM production line to meet that order in the time period given?
 
Josh_TN said:
Mk57 is a dead end. There are too many mk41s to try to accommodate any other size.
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Any new VLS system should be able to accept existing mk41 25" cannisters. I would like to see a peripheral angled launcher that can load 4x 25" with space for exhaust gas vents, or 6x 25" cold launch cannisters. Being angled outboard slightly would allow dud cold launch rounds to fall into the water. It could also load 9-12x new ~17" (SM-2/PAC-3) cannisters, or even 1-2x large caliber rounds (CPS?) in an extended length variant.
 
Honestly surprised that there wasn't an idea bout having a Sabot deal for the Mk57 that allows Mk41s to fit.

At least I never heard of one but will not surprise me if it was planned when there was to be 32 Zumwalts and died with that
 

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