RIM-174 Standard Missile 6 ERAM

History

The RIM-174 Standard Extended Range Active Missile or Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) is an anti-air missile developed for the USN. It became operational in 2013. Since then it has also become operational in the Royal Australian Navy, JMSDF and RoK Navy from 2017 onwards.

Block IA of the missile uses the airframe of the RIM-156 Standard Missile-2 ER Block IV but adds the active homing seeker of the AIM-120C AMRAAM instead of the semi-active seeker of the original missile. This allows the missile to be more capable against highly agile targets or when the target is out of range from the launching vessels' target illumination radars. SM-6 is not meant to replace the SM-2 series of missiles but will serve alongside the existing missile stock.

The SM-6 can be launched from the strike length Mk 41 VLS.

In January 2018 the USN approved plans to develop SM-6 Block IB which uses a new airframe and larger diameter rocket motor. This will increase the missiles range and speed even further.

Used on

• Ticonderoga class
• Arleigh Burke class

Affiliated systems

• Mk 41 VLS
• AEGIS System
• RIM-156 Standard Missile-2 ER Block IV
• RIM-67 Standard Missile ER
• AN/SPG-62