US military wants to expand production of one of its most effective air defense weapons

The Pentagon recently signed two framework agreements with Boeing and RTX for an increase in the production of two variants of the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3).

Last week, the Department of Defense announced, in cooperation with Boeing and RTX, two major framework agreements to increase production of key components for the Standard Missile-3 Block IB (SM-3 IB) interceptor and for the Standard Missile-3 Block IIA (SM-3 IIA) missile.

The SM-3 is an exo-atmospheric, surface-to-air interceptor used by the U.S. Navy to shoot down short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles. In other words, it targets and shoots down ballistic threats in space.

“These agreements ensure our Warfighters get the munitions they need to win,” Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael P. Duffey said in a press release. “We are stabilizing our supply chains, expanding munitions production and putting our entire defense industrial base on a wartime footing.”

The two interceptors are an integral part of the Navy’s air defense capabilities: Almost all Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers carry them.

“Both agreements will strengthen production of the series of critical ship-fired surface-to-air interceptors that underpin the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System and form the backbone of U.S. sea-based missile defense at home and abroad,” the Department of Defense stated.

The framework agreements are part of the Pentagon’s efforts to increase production (and stocks) of critical munitions following shortages caused by the active operations against Iran.

“Production of the SM-3 Block IIA and Block IB, a backbone of U.S. missile defense, will accelerate under these new frameworks, with Boeing driving component manufacturing. This directly accelerates the pipeline from the factory floor to the fleet,” the Department of Defense added.

The SM-3

An SM-3 Block IB missile is launched from JS Haguro during a live-fire exercise, November 2022. (Photo by Heather Cavaliere/Missile Defense Agency)

The SM-3 is the only member of the Standard Missile family designed to operate in space.

Similarly to the PAC-3 munition fired by the MIM-104 Patriot air-defense system, the SM-3 uses sheer kinetic force, as opposed to an explosive warhead, to destroy its target – this is known as a “hit-to-kill” method. Indeed, there is little doubt that if an SM-3 hits its target, the incoming munition is going down. The collision will produce a similar impact is as a 10-ton truck traveling at 600 miles per hour hitting another truck.

The SM-3 Block IB variant of the SM-3 has an enhanced two-color infrared seeker and upgraded steering and propulsion systems that use short bursts of precision propulsion to guide the interceptor toward the incoming threat.

The Block IB has been operational with Navy guided-missile destroyers and cruisers since 2014 and has seen extensive operational service in recent engagements. It has a range of approximately 435 miles, or 700 km.

The SM-3 Block IIA version is the most advanced of the SM-3 family and was developed in cooperation with the Japanese military.

This variant differs from others mainly in two ways: First, it sports a larger rocket motor that offers greater range and theater defense capabilities – the Block IIA variant has a range of approximately 1,550 miles, or 2,500 km). Second, it has a larger kinetic warhead and improved search, discrimination, acquisition, and track functions to deal with more advanced ballistic missile threats.

Feature Image: The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) successfully fires a Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) interceptor to engage a ballistic missile target during exercise At-Sea Demo/Formidable Shield, May 26, 2021. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Nathan T. Beard)

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