Interceptors

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Evolved Seasparrow Missile (ESSM)

The RIM-162 Evolved Seasparrow Missile (ESSM) is a medium-range, surface-to-air interceptor designed to counter high-speed antiship cruise missiles naval vessels against antiship cruise missiles (ASCM), low-velocity air threats (LVAT) such as drones and helicopters, and high-speed maneuverable surface threats. The ESSM works in concert with other air defense interceptors, such as Standard Missile-2 and Standard...

Ground-based Interceptor (GBI)

The Ground-based Interceptor (GBI) is a component of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) System. GBIs are silo-launched and intercept ballistic missiles in their midcourse, while they are outside of the atmosphere and at their highest trajectory. The GBI consists of a multi-stage rocket booster (Boost Vehicle [BV]) and a kinetic kill vehicle (Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle...

Interceptors

Interceptors are a key component in any missile defense system, supported by associated command and control and sensor systems to find, fix, and destroy incoming missiles. They come in a variety of sizes, from the anti-rocket Tamir that equips Israel’s Iron Dome to the silo-based, anti-ICBM GBIs that equip the U.S. Ground-based Midcourse Defense system....

Standard Missile-2 Block II/III

The Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) family was developed to provide air and cruise missile defense as part of the Aegis Combat System on U.S. Navy ships. The SM-2 Blocks II, III, and IV each uses semi-active radar homing and have a blast-fragment warhead with a radar and contact fuse. The family of SM-2 interceptors are all solid-fueled and...

Standard Missile-2 Block IV

The SM-2 Block IV (RIM-156A) is an extended-range surface-to-air missile interceptor modified for terminal phase ballistic missile defense. The Block IV was the first extended-range SM-2 interceptor to fit inside the MK41 VLS. The Navy deemed the differences between the Block IV and previous SM-2 ER (RIM-67) variants as significant enough to warrant its own...

Standard Missile-3 (SM-3)

The Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) is an exo-atmospheric missile defense interceptor used for theater ballistic missile defense. Part of the the Aegis Weapon System, it uses a hit-to-kill kinetic kill vehicle to intercept ballistic missiles during the midcourse of their flight path. SM-3s are unique due to being the only Standard Missile designed to operate in...

Standard Missile-6 (SM-6)

The Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) is a multi-mission missile capable of antiair warfare, terminal ballistic missile defense, and antiship strike roles. It uses a blast-fragmentation warhead to engage these threats in the endo-atmosphere. The U.S. Navy has also upgraded the SM-6 to perform strike missions. Its tri-mission capability also presents opportunities for the Navy to arrange...