The Standard Missile.

The "Standard" Missile.

In my opinion, there is, at this time, insufficient grounds to claim that the Standard is the type of missile that downed Flight 800. However, it is the missile deployed on Aegis equipped cruisers and the following information is included for completeness. 


                               Standard Missile
                                       
   Description: Surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missile,
   mounted on surface ships.
   
   Background: The Standard Missile was produced in two major types, the
   SM-1 MR/SM-2 (medium range) and the SM-2 (extended range). It is one
   of the most reliable in the Navy's inventory. Used against missiles,
   aircraft and ships, it first came into the fleet more than a decade
   ago. It replaced Terrier and Tartar missiles and is part of the
   weapons suit of more than 100 Navy ships. The SM-2 (MR) is a medium
   range defense weapon for Ticonderoga-class AEGIS cruisers, Arleigh
   Burke-class AEGIS destroyers, California and Virginia-class nuclear
   cruisers and Kidd-class destroyers with NTU conversions. Oliver Hazard
   Perry-class frigates use the SM-1 MR.
   
   Point of Contact:
   Public Affairs Office; Naval Sea Systems
   Command (OOD); Washington, DC 20362
   202-692-6920
   
  General Characteristics, SM-1, SM-2 Medium Range
  
   Primary Function: Surface to air missile
   Contractor:
   Hughes Missile Systems Company (formerly General Dynamics' Ponoma
   Division,
   sold to Hughes in 1992) Ponoma Division; Raytheon Motorola;
   Morton-Thiokol;
   Aerojet General and others
   Unit cost: SM-1 MR $402,500; SM-2 MR $421,400
   Power plant: Dual thrust, solid fuel rocket
   Length: 14 feet, 7 inches (4.41 meters)
   Weight: SM-1: 1,100 pounds (495 kg); SM-2: 1,380 pounds (621 kg)
   Diameter: 13.5 inches (34.3 cm)
   Wing Span: 3 feet 6 inches (1.08 meters)
   Range:
   15-20 nautical miles (17-23 statute miles)(SM-1 MR)
   40-90 nautical miles (46-104 statute miles) (SM-2 MR)
   Guidance system: Semi-active radar homing
   Warhead: Proximity fuse, high explosive
   Date Deployed: 1970 (SM-1 MR); 1981 (SM-2 MR)
   
  General Characteristics, SM-1, SM-2 Extended Range
  
   Primary Function: Surface to air missile
   Contractor: 
   Hughes Missile Systems Company (formerly General Dynamics' Ponoma
   Division,
   sold to Hughes in 1992) Ponoma Division; Raytheon Motorola;
   Morton-Thiokol;
   Atlantic Research and others
   Unit cost: $409,000
   Power plant: Two-stage, solid-fuel rocket; sustainer motor and booster
   motor
   Length: 26.2 feet (7.9 meters)
   Weight: 2,980 pounds (1341 kg)
   Diameter: 13.5 inches (34.3 cm)
   Wing Span: 5 feet 2 inches (1.6 meters)
   Range: 65-100 nautical miles (75-115 statute miles)
   Guidance system: Inertial/semi-active radar homing
   Warhead: Proximity fuse, high explosive
   Date Deployed: 1981
The SM-2 ER has a range of 65/120 n.Miles and 24,000 M alt The SM-2 IV which is almost oper. is 130/240 n. miles and 33,000 M alt both are rated at mach 2.5. both carry about 115Kg warhead and i believe can be KKV Remember that a big threat is SSST and the like. (supersonic sea skimming target) a thomahawk would provide a good simulation. In addition, the SM-3 is being tested? a def KKV type weapon. at white sands did an intercept on theater type missile. "SM-3 FTV test show SM-3 tye ng launched in the same way as conventional SM but after 111s. the nose cone covering KKV is ejected and the third stage ignites. The KKV is ejected 46s. later and 20s intercepts the target at a range of 230 n.miles and at an altitude of 122,000M. If the intercept fails then an endo-atmospheric intercept may be attempted" SM-3 blk 0 will be development missile including control test vehicles & guidance test vehicle. SM-3 blk I will be the Engine-mfg development missile SM-3 blk II will be initial operational capability missile RIM300A = SM-3 might check recent issue of Jane's for an article. suggest tests might have been SMCo tests of new SM-2 blk ??? or SM-3. web page at Jane's said that japan would be testing SM-3 next year? 1/98. problem might have been not from navy testing existing missiles but rather, the SMCo. (Hughes&Raytheon), doing the testing as they get cooperation from the navy with the navy providing the vehicles necessary for testing as well as the targets used in the testing. a hop from the intended target to the TWA might have taken place at a transition period in test flight. the painting of infrared beam on the drone would be interesting if accidentally the TWA flew in between. all this stuff is very interesting. suggest you look at development testing by defense contractors. this would make more sense than a navy misfiring. SM-2 or 3 speeds of 2.5 mach sure fit. remember to consider trigonometry when using radar images to read speed from. a climb perpendicular to radar image would show a zero speed with a change in altitude.

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