Australia Procures SM-2 IIIC and SM-6 Missiles for AUD 7 Bio

23 Oktober 2024

HMAS Sydney fires Royal Australian Navy’s first Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) during Exercise Pacific Dragon 2024 (photo: Aus DoD)

Safeguarding Australians with boost to air and missile defence

The Albanese Government will bolster Australia’s air and missile defence under a $7 billion agreement with the United States to acquire state-of-the-art long-range missiles.

The acquisition of the Standard Missile 2 Block IIIC (SM-2 IIIC) and Standard Missile‑6 (SM-6) is a significant milestone in the Government’s rapid progress in boosting the long-range capability of Navy’s surface combatant fleet. 

The SM-2 IIIC and SM-6 are the most advanced air and missile defence weapons in the world and will be progressively deployed across Navy’s Hobart class destroyers and in the future, the Hunter class frigates. This follows the recent successful test firing of a SM-6 from HMAS Sydney.

The SM-2 IIIC and SM6 contain advanced technologies that will greatly enhance the lethality and effectiveness of our Navy ships in line with the National Defence Strategy and the Independent Analysis into Navy’s Surface Combatant Fleet. 

SM-2 Block III missile (image: MDAA)

The SM-2 IIIC brings active seeker technology and significantly enhanced defensive capabilities against missile threats. 

The SM-6 missile will provide Australia with extended range air defence capability against air and missile threats, an offensive anti-ship capability and for the first time, a terminal ballistic missile defence capability.

The SM-2 IIIC and SM-6 complement existing capabilities such as ESSM Block 2 and Naval Strike Missile as part of a layered strike and missile defence capability for Navy’s surface combatant fleet.

The Albanese Government is enhancing deterrence by rapidly boosting the Navy’s long-range strike capabilities.

(Aus DoD)