US Navy's Potential First Combat Use of SM‑3 Missile Marks Historic Milestone
The US Navy could, for the first time, use the SM-3 missile in combat conditions to intercept short and medium-range ballistic missiles, reports The War Zone. It is possible that it helped destroy an Iranian ballistic missile about 100 kilometres above the surface of our planet, that is, at the boundary of the Earth's atmosphere and outer space.
On the morning of April 13th, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps conducted a missile air attack on targets in Israel. The Israel Defense Forces later reported that it was possible to destroy 99 percent of the more than 300 drones and missiles launched towards Israel. Allied forces, including the United States, also participated in the country's defence.
Americans could test new weapons
As CNN reports, US officials stated that more than 70 drones and three ballistic missiles were intercepted by ships and military aircraft of the US Navy. However, they did not provide any details about these operations. Therefore, it is not entirely clear what means of defence were used.
The War Zone, however, points out that this could have been, among other things, a pair of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, which, during Iran's attack on Israel, were in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. It is possible that the Americans launched the SM-3 missiles (also known as Standard Missile 3) from the decks of these units, using the Aegis BMD (AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defence) system for this purpose.
The Aegis BMD system, which is a maritime anti-ballistic missile system, combines the capabilities of guidance, detection, and fire control and consists of three basic elements: sensors, interceptors, and a command and control system. The mentioned interceptor could be SM-3 missiles designed to combat hostile ballistic missiles. This hit-to-kill weapon destroys the target by colliding with it with immense force. Its range is up to 1200 kilometres, and a key feature is the ability to destroy the enemy's missiles located in low earth orbit, which, in a sense, also makes it an anti-satellite weapon.
The War Zone emphasizes that it is unknown whether SM-3 missiles had been used against actual enemy targets before, but they have been tested for decades. It also adds: "The first combat use of SM-3 would be a huge milestone for the SM-3 program, which faced a long and very difficult, and sometimes controversial, development."
The SM-3 missile works in three phases. The first one involves launching it from a ship into space. The second stage, the mid-course phase, involves flight in outer space. During this, the SM-3 uses sensors installed and data provided by ground radars to adjust its course. In the final phase, the SM-3 releases a so-called kill vehicle that hits and destroys the target with the impact energy. The manufacturer of SM-3, Raytheon, compares these impacts to the collision with a 10-ton truck moving at a speed of about 970 km/h.
Importantly, the SM-3 also has the ability to manoeuvre after finding its target, which increases the chances of a successful hit, even in missiles that employ evasive manoeuvres. The War Zone recalls that the SM-3 missile can protect a much larger area from more advanced ballistic missiles than its predecessor, SM-6. This missile also attacks targets differently. It hits them near the final target as the missile falls through the atmosphere.
