Navy deploys Raytheon's Standard Missile-6

TUCSON, Dec. 3 (UPI) —

Raytheon reports the U.S. Navy is deploying its new extended-range Standard Missile-6 for the first time.

The missile, now under full-rate production, combines the airframe and propulsion of legacy Standard Missiles with the advanced signal processing and guidance control capabilities of the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile and is for use against fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles.

It features active and semi-active guidance modes, advanced fuzing techniques and advanced signal processing and guidance control capabilities.

"This is a monumental moment for the SM-6 program and signifies a new era of fleet defense for our naval warfighters," said Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, president of Raytheon Missile Systems. "The SM-6 significantly improves the sailor’s ability to strike at various targets at extended range."

Raytheon said it has delivered more than 50 SM-6 interceptors to the Navy under low-rate production contracts. It won a new, $243 million contract in September to build 89 additional SM-6 interceptors.