RIM-67 Standard ER

The RIM-66/67 series thus became the US Navy's universal SAM system, hence the designation "Standard Missile".

• Is Missile — yes • Name — RIM-67 Standard ER • Origin — United States • Type — Extended range surface-to-air missile with anti-ship capability • Manufacturer — Raytheon Missiles & Defense • Unit Cost — $409,000 • Service — 1981–present (RIM-67B), 1999–present (RIM-156A) • Engine — Two-stage, solid-fuel rocket; sustainer motor and booster motor • Weight — 2980 lb SM-2ER Block IV: 3225 lb • Length — 26.2 ft SM-2ER Block IV: 21 ft with booster • Diameter — SM-2ER Block IV: Main body: 13.5 in Booster: 21 in • Wingspan — 5 ft SM-2ER Block IV: 3 ft • Speed — Mach 3.5 • Vehicle Range — 65 - SM-2ER Block IV: 100 - • Ceiling — 80200 ft • Filling — Radar proximity and contact fuse, high explosive 137 lb continuous rod, later blast fragmentation • Guidance — Inertial/SARH • Launch Platform — Surface ship

The RIM-67A (SM-1ER Block I) was the Navy's replacement for RIM-8 Talos missile. Improved technology allowed the RIM-67 to be reduced to the size of the earlier RIM-2 Terrier missile. Existing ships with the Mk86 guided missile fire control system, or "Terrier" were adapted to employ the new missile in place of the older RIM-2 Terrier missile. Ships that switched from the RIM-2 Terrier to the RIM-67A were still referred to as Terrier ships even though they were equipped with the newer missile.

The second generation of Standard missile, the Standard Missile 2, was developed for the Aegis Combat System and for the New Threat Upgrade (NTU) program for existing Terrier and Tartar ships. It is the primary anti-air weapon of the US Navy. The destroyer Mahan served as the test platform for the development of the CG/SM-2 (ER) missile program project. The principal change over the Standard Missile 1 is the introduction of inertial guidance until the terminal phase where semi-active homing takes over. Terrier ships re-equipped as part of the New Threat Upgrade were refit to use the RIM-67B (SM-2ER Block I) missile. The RIM-156A Standard SM-2ER Block IV with the Mk 72 booster was developed to provide a long range SAM for the of Aegis cruisers. The Mk 72 booster allows the RIM-156A to fit into the Mark 41 Vertical Launching System. This configuration is also be used for terminal phase ballistic missile defense. • Illustration — An SM-2ER on the rail inside Mahan. There was a plan to build a nuclear armed standard missile mounting a W81 nuclear warhead as a replacement for the earlier Nuclear Terrier missile (RIM-2D). The USN rescinded the requirement for the nuclear armed missile in the 1980s, and the project was canceled. The Standard can also be used against ships, either at line-of-sight range using its semi-active homing mode, or over the horizon using inertial guidance and terminal infrared homing. The RIM-174 SM-6 ERAM is a new generation of Standard extended range missiles which became operational in 2013 designed to supplement the SM-2. As of April 2025, the Navy is considering phasing out the SM-2 series and replacing them with the PAC-3 MSE variant of the MIM-104 Patriot missile system, which can be fired from the same VLS systems but is available in greater numbers, can be produced faster, requires fewer interceptors fired to achieve a kill, and has sufficient maneuverability to engage surface-skimming targets as close as 1 km away from the launch vessel – a part of the engagement envelope that the SM-6, which must first boost to high altitudes and dive on a target, cannot engage in as it requires a greater minimum distance.

During the Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988) the United States deployed Standard missiles to protect its navy, as well as other ships in the Persian Gulf from the threat of Iranian attacks. According to the Iranian Air Force, its F-4 Phantom IIs were engaged by SM-2ERs but managed to evade them, with one aircraft sustaining non-fatal damage due to shrapnel. During the same war the United States Navy mistakenly shot down an Iranian civilian airliner, Iran Air Flight 655, using two SM-2 missiles. On April 18, 1988, during Operation Praying Mantis, the frigate Simpson fired four RIM-66 Standard missiles and the cruiser Wainwright fired two RIM-67 Standard missiles at, an Iranian Kaman-class (La Combattante II type) missile boat. The attacks destroyed the Iranian ship's superstructure but did not sink it.

• Illustration — RIM-67A Launching • Illustration — RIM-67 intercepting Firebee drone in 1980 test. RIM-67 Standard was deployed on ships of the following classes, replacing the RIM-2 Terrier, and it never was VLS-capable. All of the ships used the AN/SPG-55 for guidance. The Mk10 guided missile launching system was used as the launching system. New Threat Upgrade equipped vessels operated the RIM-67B which used inertial guidance for every phase of the intercept except for the terminal phase where the AN/SPG-55 radar illuminates the target. • Long Beach SM-1ER later SM-2ER with NTU. • Farragut-class destroyers SM-1ER later SM-2ER with NTU. • s SM-1ER later SM-2ER with NTU. • Bainbridge SM-1ER later SM-2ER with NTU. • s SM-1ER later SM-2ER with NTU. • Truxtun SM-1ER later SM-2ER with NTU. • SM-1ER Only. The RIM-156 Standard Block IV, is a version that has been developed for the Aegis Combat System it has a smaller compact sized booster stage for firing from the Mk41 Vertical Launching System. Like the earlier RIM-67B it employs inertial/command guidance with terminal semi-active homing. • s (VLS units only) • s

• Illustration — A RIM-156A (VLS version of the RIM-67) launching from a VLS cell on USS Lake Erie in 2008. • Designation — Block — Notes • RIM-67A — SM-1ER Block I — Terrier Upgrade * Essentially identical to the corresponding SM-1MR missile, except for the propulsion * Atlantic Research Corp. MK 30 solid-fuel rocket sustainer motor * Hercules MK 12 booster * MK 51 continuous-rod warhead • RIM-67B — SM-2ER Block I — New Threat Upgrade. Entered service in 1980. * Inertial Guidance System * Monopulse seeker for terminal homing • RIM-67C — SM-2ER Block II — New Threat Upgrade * Introduced Hercules MK 70 booster, almost doubling the effective range * MK 115 blast-fragmentation warhead • RIM-67D — SM-2ER Block III — New Threat Upgrade * MK 30 MOD 4 sustainer engine * MK 45 MOD 8 proximity fuze (also known as TDD – Target Detection Device) • RIM-156A (ex-RIM-67E) — SM-2ER Block IV — Designed for Aegis VLS ships. Initial Operational Capability was declared in August 1999. * Finless MK 72 booster that uses thrust-vectoring control * MK 45 MOD 10 TDD, for improved performance against high-performance, low-RCS threats * Guidance and control modifications for better performance in severe ECM environments * A developmental step toward the Navy Area Theater Ballistic Missile Defense (NATBMD) missile • RIM-156B — SM-2ER Block IVA — Designed for modified Aegis VLS ships capable of tracking both TBM's and aircraft. * Dual-mode RF/IIR (Radio Frequency/Imaging Infrared) seeker * Upgraded MK 125 warhead package * Enhanced autopilot for the anti-TBM mission canceled as a part of the whole NATBMD program in December 2001.

• Illustration — Blue training missiles on the rails of a MK-10 GMLS on Josephus Daniels • Illustration — Worden showing the Mk 10 GMLS. Note the launcher at left, the blast doors behind launcher where the missiles exit the launcher feeder and AN/SPG-55 radars at middle right. • Illustration — An SM-2ER in the magazine area, on a ready service ring of the Mk-10 GMLS on Mahan • Illustration — The guided-missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur launches a RIM-156 Standard SM-2 ER missile while conducting torpedo evasion maneuvers during Multi-Sail 2009