RIM-161 Standard Missile 3

The RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) is a ship-based missile system used by the US Navy to intercept aircraft, ships, ballistic and cruise missiles as a part of Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. Although primarily designed as an anti-ballistic missile, the SM-3 has also been employed in an anti-satellite capacity against a satellite at the lower end of Low Earth orbit. The SM-3 is primarily used and tested by the United States Navy and also operated by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and in the future by the Royal Netherlands Navy.

RIM-161 SM-3
Type	Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System
Place of origin	United States
Production history
Manufacturer	Raytheon, Aerojet
Unit cost	$9.5 million
Specifications
Length	6.55 m (21 ft 6 in)
Diameter	0.34 m (13.5 in)
Warhead	Lightweight Exo-Atmospheric Projectile (LEAP) kinetic warhead
Wingspan	1.57 m (62 in)
Propellant	Stage1: MK 72 Booster, solid-fuel, Aerojet Stage2: MK 104 Dual Thrust Rocket Motor (DTRM), solid-fuel, Aerojet Stage3: MK 136 Third Stage Rocket Motor (TSRM), solid-fuel, ATK Stage4: Solid Divert and Attitude Control System (SDACS), ATK
Operational range	>500 km (270 nautical miles)
Flight ceiling	>160 km (100 miles)
Speed	9,600 km/h
Guidance system	GPS/INS/semi-active radar homing/passive LWIR seeker (KW)

Variants of RIM-161 Standard Missile 3

The SM-3 Block IA version provides an incremental upgrade to improve reliability and maintainability at a reduced cost. The SM-3 Block IB, due in 2010, offers upgrades which include an advanced two-color infrared seeker, and a 10-thruster solid throttling divert and attitude control system (TDACS/SDACS) on the kill vehicle to give it improved capability against maneuvering ballistic missiles or warheads. Solid TDACS is a joint Raytheon/Aerojet project, but Boeing supplies some components of the kinetic warhead. With Block IB and associated ship-based upgrades, the Navy gains the ability to defend against medium range missiles and some Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles. SM-3 Block II will widen the missile body to 21” and decrease the size of the maneuvering fins. It will still fit in Mk41 vertical launch systems, and the missile will be faster and have longer range. The SM-3 Block IIA will add a larger diameter kill vehicle that is more maneuverable, and carries another sensor/ discrimination upgrade. It’s currently scheduled to debut around 2015, whereupon the Navy will have a weapon that can engage some Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles.

Standard Missile Three	Anti-Ballistic Missile	Note
RIM-161A	SM-3 Block I,	Development Version
RIM-161B	SM-3 Block IA	1 Color Seeker, Solid Divert Attitude Control System (SDACS)
None to date	SM-3 Block IB	2 Color IIR Seeker and Throttleable Divert Attitude Control System (TDACS) Passed critical design review on 13 July 2009.
None to date	SM-3 Block IIA	Long Range SM-3, Advanced Kinetic Warhead and 21-inch (530 mm) diameter first stage rocket Propulsion