RIM-66 Standard, US Surface to Air Missile

The RIM-66 Standard MR (SM-1MR/SM-2MR) is a medium range surface-to-air missile (SAM) originally developed for the United States Navy (USN). The SM-1 was developed as a replacement for the RIM-2 Terrier and RIM-24 Tartar deployed in the 1950s on a variety of USN ships. The RIM-67 Standard (SM-1ER/SM-2ER), is an extended range version of this missile with a booster stage.

RIM-66 Standard missile 1

The RIM-66A is the medium ranged version of the Standard missile and was initially developed as a replacement for the earlier RIM-24C as part of the Mk74 "Tartar" Guided Missile Fire Control System. It used the same fuselage as the earlier Tartar missile, for easier use with existing launchers and magazines for that system. The RIM-66A/B is a semi-active radar homing missile like the earlier RIM-24C, but with many improvements that make it more capable than its predecessor. The RIM-66A/B Standard MR, (SM-1MR Block I to V) was used during the Vietnam War. The only remaining version in service is the RIM-66E (SM-1MR Block VI). While no longer in service with the USN, the missile is still in service with Tartar Guided Missile Fire Control System equipped vessels, Mk 92 Guided Missile Fire Control System equipped vessels, and other compatible systems in many navies.

RIM-66 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 at one time. In the middle 1980s, the SM-2MR was deployed via Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) aboard the USS Bunker Hill, the first U.S. Navy ship to deploy a vertical launcher. VLS has, since 2003, been the only launcher used for the Standard missile in the U.S. Navy aboard Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

The SM-1 and SM-2 were continuously upgraded through Blocks (see below).

The Standard can also be used against ships, either at line-of-sight range using its semi-active homing mode, or over the horizon using inertial guidance and terminal infrared homing.

RIM-66 Standard MR
Type	Medium range surface-to-air missile
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1967 (RIM-66A SM-1MR Block I) 1979 (RIM-66C SM-2MR)
Used by	United States Navy, Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, Turkish Navy, Royal Netherlands Navy, German Navy, Canadian Navy, and Others
Production history
Manufacturer	Raytheon and others
Produced	1967 Onwards
Specifications
Weight	SM-2 – 1,558 lb (707 kg)
Length	15 ft 6 in (4.72 m)
Diameter	13.5 in (340 mm)
Warhead	blast fragmentation warhead
Detonation mechanism	radar and contact fuze
Engine	dual thrust, solid fuel rocket
Wingspan	3 ft 6 in (1.07 m)
Operational range	40 to 90 nmi (74 to 170 km)
Flight ceiling	> 24,400 m (80,100 ft)
Speed	Mach 3.5
Guidance system	SM-2 Block IIIA Command and Inertial midcourse guidance with monopulse semi-active radar homing in the terminal phase of the interception. Block IIIB missiles have additionally dual infrared/semi-active terminal homing. SM-1 missiles have monopulse semi-active radar homing without command and inertial mid-course guidance.
Launch platform	Surface Ship

Surface to air variants

Designation	Block	Platform	Notes
RIM-66A	SM-1MR Block I to IV	Digital Tartar	In Service 1967, Conscan radar seeker
RIM-66B	SM-1MR Block V	Digital Tartar	Plane scanning seeker
RIM-66C	SM-2MR Block I	Aegis combat system, Mk26 launcher	MK 115 blast-fragmentation warhead Monopulse seeker for ECM resistance
RIM-66D	SM-2MR Block I	New Threat Upgrade	First New Threat Upgrade version
RIM-66E	SM-1MR Blocks VI, VIA, VIB	Digital Tartar and Mk 92 Fire Control System.	In service 1983. Version still in service with export customers. Adds monopulse seeker developed for Standard missile 2.
RIM-66G	SM-2MR Block II	Aegis combat system, Mk26 launcher	In Service 1983.
RIM-66H	SM-2MR Block II	Aegis combat system, Mk41 Launcher	Added Thiokol MK 104 rocket motor, increasing range High-velocity fragmentation warhead
RIM-66J	SM-2MR Block II	New Threat Upgrade
RIM-66K-1	SM-2MR Block III	New Threat Upgrade
RIM-66K-2	SM-2MR Block IIIA	New Threat Upgrade	In Production.
RIM-66L-1	SM-2MR Block III	Aegis combat system, Mk26 launcher
RIM-66L-2	SM-2MR Block IIIA	Aegis combat system, Mk26 launcher
RIM-66M-1	SM-2MR Block III	Aegis combat system, Mk41 Launcher	Improved MK 45 MOD 9 target detecting device, for low altitude targets
RIM-66M-2	SM-2MR Block IIIA	Aegis combat system, Mk41 Launcher	MK 125 warhead. In production.
RIM-66M-5	SM-2MR Block IIIB	Aegis combat system, Mk41 Launcher	Missile Homing Improvement Program (MHIP), dual IR / SARH seeker, IR seeker mounted on side fairing. In Production.