US Navy destroyer USS John Finn launches SM-6 missile using unmanned system to track the target


According to information published by the U.S. Navy, the destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113) of the U.S. Navy has successfully launched Extended Range Active Missile (SM-6), striking a target well beyond the line of sight using manned and unmanned systems to track the target. 
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Russian Vyborg Shipyard laid the Purga ice class coastguard ship of project 23550 925 001 The guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113) launches an Extended Range Active Missile (SM-6) during U.S. Pacific Fleet’s Unmanned Systems Integrated Battle Problem (UxS IBP) 21. UxS IBP 21 integrates manned and unmanned capabilities into challenging operational scenarios to generate warfighting advantages. (U.S. Navy photo by Boatswain’s Mate Seaman Clark Lappert)


The launch of the missile was tested during the UxS IBP 21, a U.S. Pacific Fleet exercise, executed by U.S. 3rd Fleet, designed to integrate manned and unmanned capabilities into operational scenarios to generate warfighting advantages. The week-long event involves surface, subsurface, and aerial unmanned assets, operating with littoral combat ships, guided-missile destroyers, guided-missile cruisers, submarines and helicopter squadrons.

Unmanned systems alongside the traditional, manned naval force will give the U.S. Navy the advantage needed to fight, win and deter potential aggressors. This exercise will directly inform warfighters, warfare centers and developers to further incorporate unmanned capabilities in day-to-day Fleet operations and battle plans.

The USS John Finn (DDG-113) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that was commissioned in July 1991. As an Arleigh Burke-class ship, John Finn's roles included anti-aircraft, anti-submarine, and anti-surface warfare, as well as strike operations. The ship is equipped with 90-cell Mk 41 Vertical Launching System able to fire BGM-109 Tomahawk Land Attack Missile, RIM-66M SM-1 Surface-to-Air Missile with an ASuW mode, RIM-161 Anti-Ballistic Missile, RIM-162 ESSM Evolved SeaSparrow Missile, RUM-139 Vertical Launch ASROC anti-submarine missile, and RIM-174A Standard ERAM Extended Range Active Missile (ERAM), or Standard Missile 6 (SM-6).

The SM-6 also called RIM-174 Standard Extended Range Active Missile (ERAM) designed to provide capability against fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, anti-ship cruise missiles in flight, both over sea and land, and terminal ballistic missile defense. It can also be used as a high-speed anti-ship missile. The SM-6 missile has a length of 6.6m and a diameter of 0.5m. It weighs 1,500 kg and carries a 64 kg blast fragmentation warhead. The interceptor uses semi-active homing and active homing guidance to achieve accurate engagement of the assigned targets. The missile has an estimated range of 250 nautical miles (463 km). 

U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Indo-Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary to flawlessly execute our Navy's timeless roles of sea control and power projection. U.S. 3rd Fleet works in close coordination with other numbered Fleets to provide commanders with capable, ready assets to deploy forward and win in day-to-day competition, in crisis, and in conflict.