The USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) used a Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) Standard Missile-6 to destroy a supersonic high altitude target drone (AQM-37). The test moves the program one step closer to full operational capability.
Deployed for the first time in December 2013, SM-6 provides the U.S. Navy extended range protection against fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles.
„SM-6 is the longest range integrated air and missile defense interceptor deployed today,” said Mike Campisi, Standard Missile-6 senior program director. „Its ability to use sensors to support engagement of threats beyond the ship radar’s horizon also makes it the most advanced extended range area defense weapon in existence.”
Raytheon has delivered more than 100 SM-6 interceptors to the U.S. Navy. The missile’s final assembly takes place at Raytheon’s state-of-the-art SM-6 and SM-3 all-up-round production facility at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala.
Source / Author: Raytheon
Photo: Raytheon