US Navy’s Standard Missile-6 Block IA passes final flight test

The U.S. Navy announced it has carried out a test of the surface-to-air Standard Missile-6 Block IA (SM-6 Blk IA) at the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), New Mexico, June 7.

The navy said this test demonstrated SM-6 Blk IA’s improved capabilities and integration with the Aegis weapon system.

The event was the third of three required flight tests successfully executed at WSMR. At-sea testing of the SM-6 Blk IA is planned to commence in the fall of 2017.

“This final land test is a critical milestone which demonstrates Blk IA’s improved capability,” said Capt. John Keegan, Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS) major program manager for surface ship weapons. “I am very proud of the entire test team for their extensive planning and technical rigor that went into execution of this event.”

The SM-6 Blk IA provides an over-the-horizon engagement capability when launched from an Aegis-equipped warship and uses the latest in hardware and software missile technology to provide needed capabilities against evolving air threats. Initial Operational Capability for SM-6 Blk IA is planned for the end of 2018.