Australia will purchase SM-2 and SM-6 missiles for AUD 7 billion

HMAS Sydney is seen firing the Royal Australian Navy’s first SM-6 during Exercise Pacific Dragon 2024. (Commonwealth of Australia)

Canberra is acquiring the Standard Missile-2 Block IIIC (SM-2 IIIC) and Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) actuators as part of a A$7 billion (US$4.6 billion) agreement with the United States.

The missiles will be deployed on the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Hobart-class destroyers and future fleet of Hunter-class frigates, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and Defense Industry and Capability Minister Pat Conroy said in a joint statement on October 22. .

“The acquisition of the Standard Missile 2 Block IIIC (SM-2 IIIC) and Standard Missile‑6 (SM-6) is an important milestone in the government’s rapid progress in enhancing the long-range capabilities of the Navy’s surface combatant fleet. “, the message says.

“SM-2 IIIC and SM-6 complement existing capabilities such as ESSM (Evolved SeaSparrow Missile) Block 2 and Naval Strike Missile as part of a multilayered strike and missile defense capability for the Navy’s surface combatant fleet,” the statement said. .

In August, the third RAN destroyer of the Hobart class.
Sydney
conducted first-class shooting from the SM-6.

It was launched as part of Exercise Pacific Dragon 2024 near the Hawaiian Islands, Australia’s Department of Defense said in a statement Aug. 10, without specifying the exact date of the event.

Following the shooting, Australia became only the second country other than the United States to launch an SM-6 missile.

The SM-6 is a 6.55m long surface-to-air missile that can also conduct anti-surface warfare and missile defense.

It has a launch mass of about 1,500 kg and can reach a top speed of Mach 3 with an estimated maximum range of about 370 km.

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