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| Science & Technology |
| Navy Unveils Truck-Mounted SM-6 Missile Launcher |
| 2022-09-16 |
| [The Drive] The U.S. Navy has revealed that it recently demonstrated a road-mobile ground-based launching system for multi-purpose SM-6 missiles at an as-yet undisclosed location in Europe. The containerized launcher module, in this case loaded onto a tractor-trailer, is all but certainly the same type, or a variant thereof, as the one that was installed on the unmanned test ship Ranger for a live-fire test last year. This launcher system is also set to be a component of the U.S. Army's future Typhon system, which is expected to be able to fire SM-6s, as well as Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles. Photographs of what the Navy described as a "modular SM-6 launcher system" appeared on official social media accounts belonging to the service's Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet (NAVFOREUR-AF/Sixth Fleet) earlier today. "U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet personnel conducted convoy protection rehearsals with a U.S. Navy modular SM-6 launcher system within the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) area of responsibility on Sunday," according to the post on NAVFOREUR-AF/Sixth Fleet's Facebook page. "This U.S. Navy capability enables rapid defense of the maritime domain." |
| Posted by:M. Murcek |
| #9 The SM-6 Program is "Evolutionary not Revolutionary"... maybe that's why it doesn't seem to be a 'hot mess' like the LCS, or an 'trouble program' like the F-35 or V-22 Osprey. |
| Posted by: magpie 2022-09-16 23:22 |
| #8 It's nice, but it seems a bit bulky. Can we have a precision-guided missile that launches from the back of an F-150? A MLRS variant would be nice for skirmishing with the neighbors or holiday celebrations. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2022-09-16 21:29 |
| #7 In my era the only important truck in the navy was the exchange mobile Cantonese AKA the roach coach. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2022-09-16 20:43 |
| #6 Considering that the SM-6 is a Navy weapon system, it does make some sense for them to run it. Otherwise you're going to have to be sending Army/Airforce/Marines to a navy weapons school to use the thing. |
| Posted by: Silentbrick 2022-09-16 19:31 |
| #5 Why is the Navy involved? Partly Beltway budget shenanigans: the Army and Air Force have their own programs as well. Partly the fact that the Navy has shore installations that need protecting and they don't want to have Army units doing it. Lastly, remember Tom Clancy?, the Navy doesn't want their ships anchored as semi-permanent ABM platforms and stuck there... |
| Posted by: magpie 2022-09-16 10:36 |
| #4 Why is the Navy mounting weapons on trucks? The Marines I could understand, but they're not mentioned. |
| Posted by: ed in texas 2022-09-16 10:17 |
| #3 Now miniaturize the AN/SPY-6 radar of the Aegis system and put it on a set of trucks. The combination with mobile SM-6 would be powerful in the field. |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2022-09-16 06:20 |
| #2 Also essential for the Marines' new pacific strategy. SM-6 + Tomahawk + new longer range MLRS. |
| Posted by: Snash Shairt9621 2022-09-16 06:17 |
| #1 EV I'd bet. |
| Posted by: Dale 2022-09-16 04:45 |