The
SM-6 tactical missile has reached initial operation capability, the
Navy announced today, with SM-6s successfully loaded onboard USS Kidd
(DDG 100) in San Diego, Calif. The SM-6 is designed to provide naval
vessels with extended range protection against cruise missiles, unmanned
aerial vehicles and fixed and rotary wing aircraft. |
“We’re
very pleased to achieve [initial operational capability] on schedule,”
said Capt. Mike Ladner, the major program manager of Surface Ship Weapons,
whose portfolio includes SM-6. “The SM-6, with its ability to
extend the battle space, truly improves shipboard air defense capability.
I’m very proud of the entire Standard Missile team on this historic
achievement.”
SM-6 has entered full rate production and the program has already delivered
50 missiles ahead of schedule and under budget. Follow-on test and evaluation
will continue in 2013 and 2014 to validate the integrated fire control
capability in an operationally realistic environment.
PEO IWS, an affiliated program executive office of the Naval Sea Systems
Command, manages surface ship and submarine combat technologies and
systems and coordinates Navy enterprise solutions across ship platforms. |
