• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

	Director, Operational Test & Evaluation
	FY98 Annual Report

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION & CONTRIBUTION TO JOINT VISION 2010

The Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) is a solid propellant-fueled, tail-controlled SAM fired by surface ships. It was designed to counter high-speed, high-altitude anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs) in an advanced ECM environment. Its primary mode of target engagement uses mid-course guidance with radar illumination of the target by the ship for missile homing during the terminal phase. The Block II version of SM-2 includes a signal processor to provide less vulnerability to ECM, an improved fuze and focused-blast fragment warhead that provides better kill probability against smaller, harder targets, and new propulsion for higher velocities and maneuverability. The SM-2 can be used against surface targets.

A Block III version of SM-2 provides improved capability against low altitude targets. A modification to this version, designated Block IIIA, extends capability to even lower altitudes. Block IIIA includes a new warhead that imparts greater velocity to warhead fragments in the direction of the target. These SM-2 versions are provided as medium range (MR) rounds that can be fired from Aegis rail launchers, Aegis vertical launch systems (VLS), and Tartar rail launchers. Another MR version, designated Block IIIB, added a passive infrared (IR) seeker for an alternate guidance channel. A Block IV version was developed to provide extended range, improved cross-range, and higher altitude capability for Aegis VLS ships, as well as improved performance against low RCS targets and complex ECM. Block IVA is being developed to provide capability against theater ballistic missiles, although it is planned to retain capability against anti-air warfare threats.

SM-2 Blocks II through IV are long-range interceptors that provide protection against aircraft and anti-ship missiles, thereby expanding the battlespace and jointly contributing to the Joint Vision 2010 concept of full-dimensional protection.

Full production approvals for SM-2 Blocks have been as follows: Block II was approved in December 1986; Block III in June 1988; Block IIIA in February 1992; and Block IIIB in September 1996, following the OPEVAL summarized below. Block IV was approved for LRIP in May 1995, but further development and procurement were deferred, pending development of the Block IVA missile, (the interceptor for the Navy Area TBMD program), and Block IVA retention of Block IV capability against anti-air warfare threats. We note that since only early IOT&E of SM-2 Block IV was conducted to support the LRIP decision, its capability has never been fully determined against ASCM threat representative targets in some important categories. The Block IV program was restructured with the intention to proceed to DT&E/OT&E and support a full production decision if technical problems are encountered during development of the SM-2 Block IVA that preclude its retention of Block IV capability (never fully determined) against anti-air warfare threats.

OPEVAL of SM-2 Block IIIB was conducted during April 1996, with missile firings by an Aegis cruiser that was completing work-up training for deployment. Based on OPEVAL results, we concluded that SM-2 Block IIIB is operationally effective and suitable, although there was degradation in minimum range performance. Our B-LRIP report was published in August 1996.

An engineering flight test was conducted in February 1998 to demonstrate correction of the degraded minimum range performance observed during the FY96 OPEVAL of SM-2 Block IIIB. Analysis of test results revealed further required modifications. Other T&E activity focused on planning for Block IIIB FOT&E with LRIP rounds in early FY99. Planning was also conducted for engineering flight tests of Block IV LRIP missiles. These will be flown during early and mid-FY99. The TEMP is being updated in preparation for the Block IIIB FOT&E, planned for December 1998 at the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Kauai, HI.

Based on the 1996 OPEVAL results, we concluded that SM-2 Block IIIB is operationally effective and suitable, although there was degradation in minimum range performance. The remaining operational test program for SM-2 Block IIIB will consist of several missile firings against threat-representative targets in FY99. Missile firings will be conducted in conjunction with DT and training exercises. The test program is considered adequate for demonstrating correction of the minimum range performance deficiency and for examining areas not tested during the OPEVAL.

There is no formal OT program for Block IV at this time. This is because the Navy chose, as the Block IV EMD program was being executed, to initiate development of an SM-2 interceptor for theater ballistic missiles (TBMs). Further, this TBM interceptor would retain the Block IV capability against anti-ship cruise missiles. Consequently, the Block IV program would not proceed beyond LRIP, unless technical problems were encountered in the Block IVA development that preclude its retention of Block IV anti-air warfare (AAW) capability. At this time, engineering tests are planned for FY99 to demonstrate Block IV capability against maneuvering targets, an area not examined during the 1994 testing that preceded the LRIP decision.

The Block IVA program, which is part of the overall Navy Area TBMD program, is considered adequate in terms of demonstrating AAW retention. This includes a guided test vehicle flight against a high speed, high altitude target in FY00 at the White Sands Missile Range, NM, with subsequent at-sea testing against targets representative of the anti-ship cruise missile threats.