During the joint defense of Israel from a combined massive attacks by Iran on April 13, 2024, the US military used RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) missiles of the Aegis anti-missile system for the first time in history to intercept real targets.
As reported by Business Insider with reference to US Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, the US Navy used several RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) missiles to intercept Iranian ballistic missiles aimed at Israel.
< p>"We used the SM-2, we used the SM-6, and this weekend some SM-3s to counter the ballistic missile threat coming from Iran,– Del Toro said during a hearing before the US Senate Appropriations Subcommittee.
USNI News, citing unnamed representatives of the US Department of Defense, reported earlier that two US Navy ships fired four to seven SM-3 anti-missile missiles to intercept Iran's ballistic missiles. Del Toro's comments to lawmakers are the first public acknowledgment of the use of the SM-3.
RIM-161 Standard Missile 3, better known as SM-3 – it is the most powerful and most advanced part of the Aegis ABM system, the U.S. nuclear umbrella. SM-3 missiles are capable of shooting down intercontinental ballistic missiles at the top of the trajectory, in space. In addition, the SM-3 can be used to destroy satellites in low orbits. The latest modification of the SM-3 Block IIA: has an interception range of 1,200 km at a target height of 900–1,050 km (depending on the type of target). SM-3 Block IIA missiles accelerate to a speed of 4.5 km/s (Mach 13.2). The cost of one SM-3 is about $12 million in 2021 prices.
The development of SM-3 missiles started in the early 2000s, but the system entered service only in 2014. Until recently, the RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 was used only during tests, the interception of Iranian ballistic missiles on April 13, 2024 is the baptism of fire for the SM-3.
The SM-3 missiles can be launched using Mk 41 vertical launch systems, standard on all new US Navy ships, as well as from Aegis Ashore land bases deployed in Poland and Romania. The bulk of the Aegis missile defense system is deployed on US Navy ships, including five Ticonderoga-class missile cruisers and 28 Arleigh Burke-class missile destroyers plus 4 Japanese Kongo-class destroyers. Theoretically, it is believed that the Aegis anti-missile system can protect the United States from a potential massive nuclear strike by Russia or China.
SM-3 missiles have already been ordered by South Korea, and the Navy of the Netherlands, Turkey and Belgium are interested in such systems.
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Technical characteristics of PRO RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) missiles
- Adoption into service – 2014 (Block IB)
- Manufacturer – Raytheon, Aerojet, (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for Block IIA)
- Unit cost – $11.83 million (fiscal year 2021)
- Mass – 1.5 t
- Length – 6.55 m
- Diameter – 34.3 cm (Block I) 53.3 cm (Block II)
- Wingspan – 1.57 m
- Warhead – kinetic warhead Lightweight Exo-Atmospheric Projectile (LEAP)
- Engines – Aerojet MK 72 solid propellant (first stage), Aerojet MK 104 solid propellant (second stage), ATK MK 136 solid propellant (third stage), Aerojet deflection and attitude control throttle system (final interception stage)
- Operational range – 900-1200 km (Block IA/B), a range of 1200 km and a flight ceiling of up to 1050 km (Block IIA)
- Maximum speed – 3 km/s or Mach 8.8 (Block IA/B), 4.5 km/s or Mach 13.2 (Block IIA)
- GPS guidance, inertial system, semi-active radar homing head, passive infrared homing head