The Ship Model Forum

Seasick wrote:I thought SM-2MR Block IIIB had its IOC in 1996. Block 4 in 1998. The IIIB has a terminal Infra-red homing option so the target doesn't need illumination by the SPG-62 in the terminal phase.

http://www.navy.mil/navydata/policy/vis ... -ch3o.html

According to the Navy IIIB achieved finished operational force evaluation ("OpEval") in 1996 and achieved IOC in 1998

RIM-66C SM-2MR Block I 1983
RIM-66G SM-2MR Block II December 1986
RIM-66M-1 SM-2MR Block III June 1988
RIM-66M-2 SM-2MR Block IIIA Feburary 1992
RIM-66M-3 SM-2MR Block IIIB September 1996

There has been a manuverability upgrade for Block IIIB that has recently been adopted which is now being retrofitted to IIIB missiles and included in the upgrade kits for Block III and IIIA missiles. I believe that all III and IIIA missiles are being upgraded to IIIB standard.

Off Topic:

All Your Standards:

RIM-66A SM-1MR Blocks I to IIII (Tartar backfit)
RIM-66B SM-1MR Block V (Tartar backfit)
RIM-66C SM-2MR Block I (for Aegis)
RIM-66D SM-2MR Block I (Tartar backfit)
RIM-66E SM-1MR Block VI (Tartar backfit)
RIM-66G SM-2MR Block II (Aegis Mk26 launcher)
RIM-66H SM-2MR Block II (Aegis Mk41 launcher)
RIM-66J SM-2MR Block II (Tartar Backfit)
RIM-66K-1 SM-2MR Block III (Tartar Backfit)
RIM-66K-2 SM-2MR Block IIIA (Tartar Backfit)
RIM-66L-1 SM-2MR Block III (Aegis Mk26 launcher)
RIM-66L-2 SM-2MR Block IIIA (Aegis Mk26 launcher)
RIM-66M-1 SM-2MR Block III (Aegis Mk41 Launcher)
RIM-66M-2 SM-2MR Block IIIA (Aegis Mk41 Launcher)
RIM-66M-3 SM-2MR Block IIIB (Aegis Mk41 Launcher)

RIM-67A SM-1ER Block I (Terrier Backfit)
RIM-67B SM-2ER Block I (Terrier backfit)
RIM-67C SM-2ER Block II (Terrier Backfit)
RIM-67D SM-2ER Block III (Terrier Backfit)
RIM-156A SM-2ER Block IIII (Aegis Mk41 Launcher)

RIM-161A SM-3 Block I (Aegis Mk41 Launcher)
RIM-161B SM-3 Block 1A (Aegis Mk41 launcher)

Sea Sparrows:

RIM-7E Sea Sparrow
RIM-7H NATO Sea Sparrow Block I
RIM-7M NATO Sea Sparrow Block II
RIM-7P NATO Sea Sparrow Block III
RIM-162A Evolved Sea Sparrow (Aegis Mk41 launcher)
RIM-162B Evolved Sea Sparrow (Non-Aegis Mk41 launcher)
RIM-162C Evolved Sea Sparrow (Non-Aegis Mk48 launcher)
RIM-162D Evolved Sea Sparrow (Non-Aegis Mk29 launcher)

Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM):

RIM-116A RAM Block 0
RIM-116B RAM Block 1

Maybe IIIA is 1996. I can't dispute the ER IOC. Maybe like everything else, the reporter got it wrong.

I thought SM-2MR Block IIIB had its IOC in 1996. Block 4 in 1998. The IIIB has a terminal Infra-red homing option so the target doesn't need illumination by the SPG-62 in the terminal phase.

Paraphrased from July 2007 USNI Proceedings:

SM-2MR Block IIIB is about to enter IOC. (Note: USNI author has this date wrong; he must be referring to something else).

Block IIIB incorporates enhancements from the SM-3 and SM-2 ER Block IV variant such as thrust vectoring and new steering section. The new missiles were tested with a sequence of extraordinarily high-G maneuvers at White Sands last fall. These will be the end of the series and will be replaced whenever the higher energy SM-6 enters service after 2013.

The Navy notes improvements in SM-2 & SM-3 in parallel with development of the SM-6 are intended to counter continuing improvements in cruise and ballistic missile technology. Their area defense abilities bypass the complexities of securing and defending sites for shore based missile systems.