RIM-67 Standard

See also: Standard Missile

The RIM-67 Standard ER (SM-1ER/SM-2ER) is an extended range surface-to-air missile (SAM) with a secondary anti-ship capability, originally developed for the United States Navy (USN). The RIM-67 was developed as a replacement for the RIM-8 Talos, a 1950s system deployed on a variety of USN ships, and eventually replaced the RIM-2 Terrier as well, since it was of a similar size and fitted existing Terrier launchers and magazines. The RIM-66 Standard MR was essentially the same missile without the booster stage, designed to replace the RIM-24 Tartar. The RIM-66/67 series thus became the US Navy's universal SAM system, hence the designation "Standard Missile".

RIM-67 Standard ER
Type	Extended range surface-to-air missile with anti-ship capability
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1981–present (RIM-67B), 1999–present (RIM-156A)
Production history
Manufacturer	Raytheon Missiles & Defense
Unit cost	$409,000
Specifications
Mass	2,980 lb (1,350 kg) SM-2ER Block IV: 3,225 lb (1,463 kg)
Length	26.2 ft (8.0 m) SM-2ER Block IV: 21 ft 6 in (6.55 m) with booster
Diameter	SM-2ER Block IV: Main body: 13.5 in (34.3 cm) Booster: 21 in (53.3 cm)
Wingspan	5 ft 2 in (1.57 m) SM-2ER Block IV: 3 ft 6 in (1.07 m)
Warhead	Radar proximity and contact fuse, high explosive 137 lb (62 kg) continuous rod, later blast fragmentation
Engine	Two-stage, solid-fuel rocket; sustainer motor and booster motor
Operational range	65–100 nmi (120–185 km) SM-2ER Block IV: 100–200 nmi (190–370 km)[1]
Flight ceiling	80,200 ft (24,400 m)
Maximum speed	Mach 3.5
Guidance system	Inertial/SARH
Launch platform	Surface ship

RIM-67A SM-1 Extended Range

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. ^{[citation needed]}

RIM-67B and RIM-156 SM-2 Extended Range

The second generation of Standard missile, the Standard Missile 2, was developed for the Aegis Combat System, and the New Threat Upgrade (NTU) program that was planned for existing Terrier and Tartar ships. The destroyer USS 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 for each phase of the missile's flight except the terminal phase where semi-active homing was retained. This design change was made so that missiles could time share illumination radars and enable equipped ships to defend against saturation missile attacks. ^{[citation needed]}

Terrier ships reequipped as part of the New Threat Upgrade were refit to operate the RIM-67B (SM-2ER Block I) missile. ^{[citation needed]}

The RIM-156A Standard SM-2ER Block IV with the Mk 72 booster was developed to compensate for the lack of a long range SAM for the Ticonderoga class of Aegis cruisers. The Mk72 booster allows the RIM-156A to fit into the Mark 41 Vertical Launching System. This configuration can also be used for Terminal phase Ballistic Missile Defense.^[2]

An SM-2ER on the rail inside USS 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.^[3]

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.^[4]

RIM-174 Standard Missile 6 ERAM is a new generation of Standard extended range missiles, which became operational in 2013.^[5]

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 1km 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).^[6]

Operational history

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.^[7] During the same war the United States Navy mistakenly shot down an Iranian civilian airliner, Iran Air Flight 655 using two SM-2 missiles.^[8]

On April 18, 1988, during Operation Praying Mantis, the frigate USS Simpson fired four RIM-66 Standard missiles and the cruiser USS Wainwright fired two RIM-67 Standard missiles at Joshan, an Iranian Kaman-class (La Combattante II type) missile boat. The attacks destroyed the Iranian ship's superstructure but did not sink it. ^{[citation needed]}

Deployment

RIM-67A Launching

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.

• USS Long Beach SM-1ER later SM-2ER with NTU.
• Farragut-class destroyers SM-1ER later SM-2ER with NTU.
• Leahy-class cruisers SM-1ER later SM-2ER with NTU.
• USS Bainbridge SM-1ER later SM-2ER with NTU.
• Belknap-class cruisers SM-1ER later SM-2ER with NTU.
• USS Truxtun SM-1ER later SM-2ER with NTU.
• Italian cruiser Vittorio Veneto 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.

• Ticonderoga-class cruisers (VLS units only)
• Arleigh Burke-class destroyers

Variants

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-67D	SM-2ER Block IIIC[9]	New Threat Upgrade for advanced anti-ship missiles and aircraft Active radar seeker
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 Cancelled as a part of the whole NATBMD program in December 2001.

Gallery

• 
  Blue training missiles on the rails of a MK-10 GMLS on USS Josephus Daniels
• 
  USS 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.
• 
  An SM-2ER in the magazine area, on a ready service ring of the Mk-10 GMLS on Mahan
• 
  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

See also

• RIM-2 Terrier – predecessor
• RIM-8 Talos – predecessor
• RIM-24 Tartar
• AGM-78 Standard ARM
• RIM-66 Standard Medium Range
• RIM-161 Standard SM-3
• RIM-174 Standard ERAM – successor