BMD From the Sea

The US DoD might deploy an at-sea ballistic missile defense (BMD) capability, centered on the Raytheon RIM-161A Standard Missile 3 (SM-3), in place of the land-based European BMD system, plans for which were cancelled in 9/2009. Raytheon is collaborating with the Navy to develop the SM-3 Block 1B and Block IIB configurations for integration into the Lockheed Martin Aegis BMD system. The upper-tier missile combines the SM-2 ER Block IVA airframe and propulsion system with the Advanced Solid Axial Stage from Alliant Techsystems (ATK), a GPS/INS device and a third-gen, non-explosive hit-to-kill kinetic warhead supplied by Boeing. Potential customers for the SM-3 include the Netherlands, German and S. Korean navies.