RIM-66 Standard

The Standard missile program was started in 1963 to produce a family of missiles to replace existing guided missiles used by the Terrier, Talos, and Tartar guided missile systems. The intention was to produce a new generation of guided missiles that could be retrofitted to existing guided missile systems. Standard Missile 2 The RIM-66C/D Standard MR (SM-2MR Block I) was developed in the 1970s and was a key part of the Aegis combat system and New Threat Upgrade (NTU). The SM-2MR introduced inertial and command mid-course guidance. The missile's autopilot is programmed to fly the most efficient path to the target and can receive course corrections from the ground. Target illumination for semi-active homing is needed only for a few seconds in the terminal phase of the interception. This capability enables the Aegis combat system and New Threat Upgrade equipped vessels to time-share illumination radars, greatly increasing the number of targets that can be engaged in quick succession. The SM-2 has conducted more than 2,700 successful live firings. In June 2017, Raytheon announced it was restarting the SM-2 production line to fulfill purchases made by the Netherlands, Japan, Australia, and South Korea. Production had been stopped in 2013 from a lack of international orders. New deliveries of SM-2 Block IIIA and IIIB missiles were scheduled to begin in 2020. ==Contractors==

Standard missiles were constructed by General Dynamics Pomona Division until 1992, when it became part of the Hughes Missile Systems Company. Hughes formed a joint venture with Raytheon called Standard Missile Company (SMCo). Hughes Missile Systems was eventually sold to Raytheon making it the sole contractor. Due to the end of the US Navy's support of the SM-1 missile system, the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) has taken over support for the system in Taiwanese service including production of replacement rocket motors. The new rocket motors allow for increased range and the upgrade also included an active radar homing seeker. ==Operational history==

The Standard Missile One became operational in 1968. The missile was utilized by ships equipped with the Tartar Guided Missile Fire Control System. The missile saw its first combat use in the early 1970s in the Vietnam war. In 1988 the Iranian Kaman-class missile boat Joshan was disabled by RIM-66s. On 9 October 2016, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer fired two SM-2s, as well as one Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile, at two incoming Houthi anti-ship missiles off the coast of Yemen, one of which struck the water on its own. It is unknown if the SM-2s were responsible for intercepting the second cruise missile. On 12 October, Mason again came under attack by an anti-ship missile, and an SM-2 she fired was confirmed to have intercepted it at a range of 8 miles. This marked the first time in history a warship successfully defended itself with SAMs launched from vertical launch cells against an anti-ship missile. The ship experienced yet a third attack on 15 October, this time with 5 AShMs. She fired SM-2s, destroying four of the missiles. On 19 October 2023, the USS Carney fired SM-2s to shoot down three land-attack cruise missiles and eight drones launched from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen. The interceptions occurred over the Red Sea; although the ship wasn't threatened, the missiles were headed north towards Israel following the start of the Gaza war. From October 2023 to January 2024, several U.S. Navy destroyers downed dozens of missiles and attack drones launched by the Houthis against ships transiting the Red Sea, primarily using SM-2s. Although the SM-2 effectively intercepted the threats, at a cost of roughly $2.4 million per missile, it is inefficient at shooting down drones, causing concerns about expending them against such cheap targets and depleting a ship's limited VLS capacity. In February 2024, in a friendly fire incident in the Red Sea, two SM-2s were launched by German frigate Hessen at a US MQ-9 Reaper drone. Both SM-2s crashed into the sea because of "a technical defect". SM-2s were used by the US in combat in the 2026 Iran war. ==Deployment history==

The Standard missile is designated by blocks depending upon their technological package. SM-1 Medium Range Block I/II/III/IV, RIM-66A The First Standard missiles entered service in the USN in 1967. Blocks I, II, and III were preliminary versions. Block IV was the production version. This missile was a replacement for the earlier RIM-24C Tartar missile. with the United States Navy and export customers. The RIM-66E was used by all remaining Tartar vessels that were not modified to use the New Threat Upgrade and s which controlled it with the Mk92 fire control system. Production of this missile ended in 1987. The missile was retired from USN service in 2003; however there are a large number of this model in service abroad and it is expected to remain viable until 2020. SM-2 Medium Range Block I, RIM-66C/D The RIM-66C was the first version of the Standard missile two. The missile became operational in 1978 with the Aegis combat system fitted to the . The RIM-66D was the SM-2 medium-range block I version for the New Threat Upgrade. The SM-2 incorporates a new autopilot giving it inertial guidance in all phases of flight except for the terminal intercept where semi-active radar homing is still used. This version is no longer in service; remaining missiles have either been remanufactured into later models or have been put in storage. Additionally, the missile has a new dorsal fin design and a thrust vectoring jet tab assembly to control trajectory as the missile egresses the launcher. In 2018, the U.S. Navy awarded Raytheon Missile Systems a $149.4 million contract for engineering, manufacturing, and development of the Block IIIC. In July 2021, the U.S. Navy awarded Raytheon Missile Systems a $45 million contract for the low-rate initial production of the Block IIIC. In July 2022, the U.S. Navy fired Block IIIC missiles against four targets during testing on . The State Department had approved the sale of the Block IIIC to Australia in August 2021. In November 2020, the State Department approved the sale of the Block IIIC to Canada for their planned Canadian Surface Combatant class. SM-2 Medium Range Block IIICU The SM-2 Medium Range Block IIICU is modified version of the Block IIIC missile that will feature a new guidance section and target detection device from the SM-6 Block IU. Deployment In the US Navy, RIM-66 Standard was deployed on ships of the following classes, replacing RIM-24 Tartar in some cases: • (Mk 74 Missile Fire Control) • (Mk 74 Missile Fire Control) • (Mk 92 Missile Fire Control) • (Mk 74 Missile Fire Control SM-1/later New Threat Upgrade for SM-2) • (Mk 74 Missile Fire Control SM-1/later New Threat Upgrade for SM-2) • (Mk 74 Missile Fire Control SM-1/later New Threat Upgrade for SM-2) • (Aegis Combat System) • (Aegis Combat System) • (TSCEI) RIM-66 has also been widely exported and is in service in other navies worldwide. ==Variants==

Table sources, reference material: ==Land Attack Standard Missile==

The RGM-165 LASM, also given the designation SM-4, was intended as means to give long-range precision fires in support of the US Marine Corps. Intended as an adaptation of the RIM-66, it retained the original MK 125 warhead and MK 104 rocket motor, with the radar seeker replaced by GPS/INS guidance. While test fired in 1997 using three modified RIM-66K SM-2MR Block III missiles, with 800 missiles set for replacement and IOC expected for 2003/2004, it was cancelled in 2002 due to limited capabilities against mobile or hardened targets. ==Operators==

Current operators ; • Royal Australian Navy (Onboard frigates) ; • Chilean Navy (Onboard s) ; • Royal Danish Navy (Onboard frigates) ; • Egyptian Navy (Onboard s) ; • German Navy (Onboard & future F-127 frigates) ; • Italian Navy (Onboard s) ; • Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (Onboard , , & s) ; • Royal Netherlands Navy (Onboard s) ; • Polish Navy (onboard s) ; • Pakistan Navy (onboard s) ; • Republic of Korea Navy (onboard & s) ; • Spanish Navy (onboard & s) ; • ROC Navy (onboard & s, s). Some SM-1 have been upgraded by NCSIST with an improved propulsion section and an active seeker. ; • Turkish Navy (Onboard s) ; • United States Navy (Onboard s & s) Former operators ; • Royal Canadian Navy (Onboard s) ; • French Navy (onboard s 1988–2021) ; • Hellenic Navy (onboard s 1991–2004) ==See also==