RIM-67 Standard, US Surface to Air Missile

The RIM-67 Standard ER (SM-1ER/SM-2ER) is an extended range surface-to-air missile (SAM) and anti ship missile originally developed for the United States Navy (USN). The RIM-67 was developed as a replacement for the RIM-8 Talos a 1950s system systems deployed on a variety of USN ships.

RIM-67 Standard ER
Type	extended range surface-to-air missile
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1981
Unit cost	$409,000
Specifications
Weight	2,980 lb (1,350 kg)
Length	26.2 ft (8.0 m)
Warhead	Proximity fuse, high explosive 137 lb (62 kg) continuous rod, later blast fragmentation
Engine	Two-stage, solid-fuel rocket; sustainer motor and booster motor
Wingspan	5 ft 2 in (1.57 m)
Operational range	65–100 nmi (120–190 km)
Flight ceiling	80,200 ft (24,400 m)
Speed	classified
Guidance system	Inertial/SARH
Launch platform	Surface Ship

RIM-67A SM-1 Extended Range

The RIM-67A (SM-1ER Block I) was the Navy's replacement for RIM-8 Talos missile. Improved technology allowed the RIM-67 to be reduced to the size of the earlier RIM-2 Terrier missile. Existing ships with the Mk86 guided missile fire control system, or "Terrier" were adapted to employ the new missile in place of the older RIM-2 Terrier missile. Ships that switched from the RIM-2 Terrier to the RIM-67A were still referred to as Terrier ships even though they were equipped with the newer missile.

RIM-67 and RIM-156 SM-2 Extended Range

The second generation of Standard missile, the Standard Missile 2, was developed for the Aegis combat system, and New Threat Upgrade program that was planned for existing Terrier and Tartar ships. The principle change over the Standard missile 1 is the introduction of inertial guidance for each phase of the missile's flight except the terminal phase where semi-active homing was retained. This design change was made so that missiles could time share illumination radars and enable equipped ships to defend against saturation missile attacks.

Terrier ships reequipped as part of the New Threat Upgrade were refit to operate the RIM-67B (SM-2ER Block II) missile. However, Aegis ships were not equipped with launchers that had space enough for the longer RIM-67B.

The RIM-156A Standard SM-2ER Block IV with the Mk 72 booster was developed to compensate for the lack of a long range SAM for the Ticonderoga-class of Aegis cruisers. This configuration can also be used for Terminal phase Ballistic Missile Defense.

There was a plan to build a nuclear armed standard missile mounting a W81 nuclear warhead as a replacement for the earlier Nuclear Terrier missile (RIM-2D). The USN rescinded the requirement for the nuclear armed missile in the 1980s, and the project was canceled.

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.

A new generation of Standard extended range missiles is expected to become operational in 2011. This missile is covered in a separate article. Please see RIM-174 Standard ERAM for details.

RIM-67 Standard Surface to air variants

Designation	Block	Notes
RIM-67A	SM-1ER Block I	Terrier Upgrade
RIM-67B	SM-2ER Block I	New Threat Upgrade
RIM-67C	SM-2ER Block II	New Threat Upgrade
RIM-67D	SM-2ER Block III	New Threat Upgrade
RIM-156A	SM-2ER Block IV	Aegis ER VLS
RIM-156B	SM-2ER Block IVA	Canceled