SM-6 Cleared for Export

[colay1]

it gets down to the logic boards... and if they are modular etc....

eg think of Mk48 ADCAP CBASS as an example, or Kerkanya.

(free plug for DT if you do the right search )

design and engineering principles are the same

Oh OK then, if there are unique boards to support the different attack modes then I can understand why there could be multiple variants deployed. Thanks

 

[gf0012-aust]

Oh OK then, if there are unique boards to support the different attack modes then I can understand why there could be multiple variants deployed. Thanks

eg the target and discrimination library might be part of the (RISC based) logic controller - or it may not be an FRU item

 

[r3mu511]

... if you have the GPS h/w ...

that (ie. having gps h/w) is probably a major tech question wrt dual-1,2 having the same asuw capability as block-1a

we know dual-1 (sbt-bmd) came before block-1a (asuw), and dual-1 didn't have a gps receiver for it's sbt-bmd role

so the question would be whether they've now decided to include a gps receiver in dual-1,2 variants (plus the asuw s/w)... but so far I haven't found any open source info on a gps receiver being included for dual-1,2

 

[colay1]

that (ie. having gps h/w) is probably a major tech question wrt dual-1,2 having the same asuw capability as block-1a

we know dual-1 (sbt-bmd) came before block-1a (asuw), and dual-1 didn't have a gps receiver for it's sbt-bmd role

so the question would be whether they've now decided to include a gps receiver in dual-1,2 variants (plus the asuw s/w)... but so far I haven't found any open source info on a gps receiver being included for dual-1,2

Yes and as per GF's comments there may be other hardware dependencies aside from GPS. So we can hope more will be revealed in due time.

 

[r3mu511]

^and just as we are posting here about sm-6 and multi-role use, Thad Smith, raytheon's sm-6 business development director just said at the recent SNA 2017 symposium that starting later in 2017 the sm-6 missiles raytheon will be delivering to the USN will have all 3 (aaw, sbt-bmd, asuw) capabilities...

(Defense & Aerospace Report video published 01-11-2017)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bifPZHiTKfY

so there it is, USN sm-6 deliveries in 2017 will support all 3 modes... maybe they will call this block variant sm-6 "triple-1", lol...

 

[colay1]

LOL.. Thanks for the confirmation. SM-6 wins the Blue Ribbon for versatility. Now build enough of them to halve the current $4M unit cost.

 

[gf0012-aust]

LOL.. Thanks for the confirmation. SM-6 wins the Blue Ribbon for versatility. Now build enough of them to halve the current $4M unit cost.

it also has the potential for ASAT

 

[gf0012-aust]

it's a possibility that they are indeed also gps equipped and have the software for asuw mode... but fwiw, the open source information so far is only about the aaw and sbt-bmd use for the dual-1,2 variants...

one could say:

sm-6 dual-1,2 - aaw, sbt-bmd, (asuw unknown)

reuben james would indicate that it is AShM/ASM.
GPS is flagged for future inclusion.

I suspect that there is a high degree of modularity in this gen as they can be tested in silo

 

[r3mu511]

it also has the potential for ASAT

@GF, anti-sat? might you perhaps be confusing sm-6 with sm-3?... it was after all an sm-3 block-1a which was used in "Operation Burnt Frost" to bring down the US-193 satellite back in Feb '08...

 

[gf0012-aust]

@GF, anti-sat? might you perhaps be confusing sm-6 with sm-3?... it was after all an sm-3 block-1a which was used in "Operation Burnt Frost" to bring down the US-193 satellite back in Feb '08...

am aware of that. the ability to upgrade SM6 for a variety of different missions is pretty self evident.

 

[r3mu511]

now that would be a really impressive upgrade for a future sm-6 block variant since that would mean they'ld have to give it a means to maneuver once it's exo-atmospheric and it's fins loose the ability for aerodynamic control... maybe giving it something akin to the sm-3's KV divert and altitude control (tdacs)...

they'ld have to call that sm-6 block variant something like "quadruple-1", hehe...

 

[John Fedup]

This article describes a new seeker technology for the SM-6.

Breakthrough - Missile Defense Agency Fires 2 SM-6 Interceptors at Once - Testing New Seeker Technology - Warrior - Scout

 

[colay1]

deleted