Evolution, One Revolution at a Time

Sometimes a story stands out because someone says something very smart. This is a good example.

The U.S. Navy flight-tested Raytheon Company's Standard Missile-2 target detecting device. The SM-2 Block IIIB flight marks the lowest-altitude intercept to date using the new device, which enhances the SM-2's ability to detect and destroy threats.

The missile was fired from USS STERETT (DDG-104) during combined combat system ship qualification trials. The test flights included additional SM-2 Block IIIA, SM-2 Block IIIB, and SM-2 Block III missiles. The missiles engaged multiple targets under stressing conditions representing a variety of threat scenarios.

"These tests demonstrate the reliability and accuracy of SM-2 as it continues to evolve," says Ron Shields, Raytheon Missile Systems Standard Missile program director. "The SM-2's ability to employ this new target-detecting device against challenging targets enhances the missile's usefulness to the warfighter."

zen.

Good job to the Navy for getting a good photo, love it. Would have been more interesting had they told us how low the altitude was for the intercept. Probably best they didn't.

The Navy news article on this story is really good.

"I am extremely satisfied with the gun's performance," said Sterett's Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Brian Eckerle. "It has really performed exceptionally under the taxing demand of firing 582 rounds."

In addition to direct engagement systems, Sterett's Electronic Warfare (EW) capabilities were tried, as were chaff countermeasures and the SPY-1D(V) air search radar. However, the centerpiece of the CSSQT was the live firing of 7 SM-2 missiles against air and ground launched drone targets.

Test objectives for the events, in addition to certifying Baseline 7.1R for tactical use in the fleet, included operability tests of the SM-2 Block IIIB Missile, which contains an infrared (IR) seeker head assembly in the guidance section. The missile has the ability for dual mode terminal homing and can start homing on RF energy, switching to IR homing if necessary for a successful intercept.

In a true testament to the warfighting ability of Aegis Baseline 7.1R, Sterett simultaneously directed four SM-2 engagements to prosecution, and the test was an enormous success. CSSQT was highly anticipated as a critical milestone toward the development and testing of future weapons capability for the next generation of surface combatants.

This represents further evolution of existing systems, good stuff here. I am particularly pleased to read an article like this and note the use of live ammunition in training, including ASW training if you can believe it. To me, this is another example of how the Navy outside of Washington is doing really good things. If we could only fix the issues that seem centric to Washington.