US approves SM-6 and SM-2 IIC related sale to Australia
The SM-2 missile chases threats closer to the water's surface, defending against anti-ship missiles and aircraft out to 90 nautical miles. (Photo: Raytheon)
Australia begins preparations to incorporate SM-6 and SM-2 IIC with sale for related equipment and services.
The US State Department has approved a possible FMS for future standard missile production and related equipment to Australia.
The principal contractor of this sale will be Raytheon Missiles and Defense and the contract has an estimated value of $350 million.
The government of Australia has requested services related to the future purchase of SM-6 and SM-2 IIC missiles.
These services include engineering, integration, testing, obsolescence engineering and US Government and contractor engineering or technical assistance.
The sale will support the readiness and further purchasing of anti-air warfare capabilities that can be deployed from Australia’s newest Hunter-class destroyers, which are equipped with the latest AEGIS Combat Systems.
The purchase of SM-6 and SM-2 IIC missiles is planned for in Australia’s procurement roadmap.
According to Shephard Defence Insight, the SM-6 is a surface-to-air supersonic missile, launched from cruisers and destroyers, capable of successfully engaging manned and unmanned, fixed- or rotary-wing aircraft and land-attack or anti-ship cruise missiles in flight.
The US approved SM-6 foreign sales in 2017, the Aegis combat system operators were expected to be among the first customers.
This was confirmed as Japan was the first international customer to procure the missiles in 2018.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Kraken’s Royal Navy USV contract signals next step in crewed-uncrewed integration]()
Kraken’s Royal Navy USV contract signals next step in crewed-uncrewed integration
The UK Royal Navy’s rapid procurement of uncrewed platforms aligns with the force’s strategic shift towards a fleet better equipped to handle modern threats.
-
![HMS Anson’s milestone stay in Australia cut short during AUKUS deployment]()
HMS Anson’s milestone stay in Australia cut short during AUKUS deployment
The Astute-class submarine’s visit to Australia was the first time maintenance activity on a UK Royal Navy nuclear submarine had been carried out in the country.
-
![How Operation Epic Fury could reduce US readiness to face China]()
How Operation Epic Fury could reduce US readiness to face China
The offensive against Iran could impact training and maintenance cycles and accelerate the degradation of the US arsenal on top of depleting Washington’s stockpiles.
-
![UK Royal Navy explores modular counter-drone capabilities for future hybrid fleet]()
UK Royal Navy explores modular counter-drone capabilities for future hybrid fleet
The UK MoD is scoping out systems to counter the growing threat of uncrewed aerial systems, with a focus on low-cost modularity and speed to field.
