Latest news with #SM-3
Business Insider
15-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
The US Navy's overreliance on top missile interceptors is 'unsustainable' in more intense fights, top admiral warns
US warships fighting around the Middle East have been leaning hard on top ballistic missile interceptors. That won't be sustainable in high-tempo combat operations that can fast consume key munitions, a top Navy admiral cautioned. Adm. James Kilby, the acting chief of naval operations, told Business Insider that cheaper alternatives for air defense are needed to preserve critical munitions stockpiles. The Navy has regularly found itself in air defense engagements around the Middle East since a fresh wave of violence swept across the region in October 2023. In the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, American warships have shot down hundreds of missiles and drones that the Tehran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched at merchant shipping lanes. And in the Eastern Mediterranean, US warships have intercepted massive Iranian ballistic missile salvos targeting Israel over three separate exchanges of fire. Kilby said the Navy has fired "significant numbers of advanced munitions" in support of these operations. However, "while the Navy remains fully capable and ready to respond to any contingency today, the pace and volume of these high-end weapon expenditures were neither anticipated by the Navy nor the defense industrial base." "As a result, our inventory of the most capable interceptors is reduced and requires an increased munitions delivery rate," he said. Kilby said the Navy is working with the US Missile Defense Agency, the Maritime Industrial Base Program Office, and its industry partners to expand interceptor production capacity. The efforts, he stressed, will help rebuild and sustain munitions stockpiles. Officials and analysts have said the Navy needs more of its best interceptors for higher-level threats in the Pacific, like China and its expanding ballistic missile arsenal. Some observers have raised concerns that US warships are rapidly expending essential munitions without adequate plans to replace them. A specific concern is the Standard Missile-3, or SM-3, interceptor inventory. These weapons can take out short- to intermediate-range missiles during the midcourse phase of flight. Unlike other ship-launched munitions, the SM-3 can engage threats in space. US warships in the Eastern Mediterranean have used the powerful SM-3s to defend Israel from Iranian missile attacks. These interceptors, produced by Raytheon, Aerojet, and, for newer types, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, are exceptionally effective weapons, but they come at a high price tag, between $10 million and $30 million, depending on the variant. Another Navy ballistic missile interceptor is the roughly $4 million SM-6, suited for defense against aircraft and cruise missiles, as well as terminal defense against ballistic missile threats. "The Navy's current reliance on high-cost interceptors, such as SM-6 and SM-3, is unsustainable in high-tempo operations," Kilby warned. He added that the military "must shift to use lower-cost alternatives while preserving expensive defenses for strategic weapons — or risk running short when it matters most." Navy leadership has pointed to the Red Sea conflict as a clear example of the problem, as US warships have been forced to expend multimillion-dollar missiles to destroy cheap Houthi drones that can cost just thousands of dollars. Alternative options are limited for ballistic missile threats, but there are some better choices for drones that are being used to reduce pressure on interceptor arsenals. As the Red Sea conflict dragged on, US forces increasingly found themselves relying on lower-cost alternatives to preserve the expensive missiles. During the weekslong Operation Rough Rider targeting the Houthis earlier this year, for instance, American fighter jets used cheap laser-guided rockets for around half of all Houthi drone kills. The $25,000 AGR-20 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System rocket is significantly cheaper than a $500,000 air-to-air missile. And these rockets are substantially cheaper than ship-launched SM-2 interceptors — weapons on the lower end of the Navy's missile defense capabilities that cost more than $2 million. The Navy has made it a priority in its current and future operations to bring the cost difference between air defense weapons and the threats they engage much closer to parity, especially as drones become increasingly relevant in naval warfare. Kilby said the Navy is also consistently evaluating and updating its tactics, techniques, and procedures to prepare for future operations. This includes finding ways to speed up the learning process, leading to more efficiency on the water. For instance, Kilby said data from the Navy's advanced Aegis Weapons System — which is equipped on Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and Ticonderoga-class cruisers — previously took weeks to process after an air defense engagement. But thanks to collaboration between the sea service, industry, and tech community, that timeline has decreased to just 24 hours. "The 24-hour assessment timeline allows our ships and weapons systems operators to improve tactical proficiency and effectiveness while remaining in combat," Kilby said.
Middle East Eye
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Former US official says Israel should give Patriot interceptors to Ukraine
A former Pentagon official has said Israel has more than half a dozen retired Patriot missile batteries and hundreds of interceptors in its reserves that could be sent to Ukraine, as the US looks to beef up Kyiv's air-defences from Russian attacks. Dan Caldwell, a former senior advisor to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, wrote on X that: "Trump has made clear he wants to provide Ukraine with more air defense assets. With that in mind, I think the best place to get them from with the least amount of trade offs against US and allied readiness is from Israel's stocks of retired Patriot PAC-2 missiles/batteries." "Israel has already provided one Patriot battery and about 90 missiles to the U.S. for refurbishment, which was then reportedly sent on to Ukraine. According to open source data, Israel probably has about eight batteries and several hundred missiles left in storage," he said. "Considering the significant amount of THAAD and SM-3/6 interceptors expended in defense of Israel during the 12 day war the U.S. has more than enough standing to ask Israel to send a portion of its retired Patriot stockpile back to the U.S. which can then be provided to Ukraine," he added. US President Donald Trump has grown frustrated with his Russian counter-part Vladimir Putin as peace talks stall, saying earlier this week he was full of 'bullshit'. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Trump promised to send defensive weapons to Ukraine in a U-turn after the administration had ordered a pause on weapons shipments that included Patriot interceptors. Axios news reported that Trump promised to send 10 interceptors to Ukraine, underscoring how precious a commodity patriots have become. The war in Ukraine, the US campaign against the Houthis and the Israel-Iran conflict have exhausted the supply of interceptors. Patriot batteries are also in short supply. Middle East Eye was the first to reveal during the recent Israel-Iran conflict that US officials were concerned about the pace at which they were using interceptors to defend Israel from ballistic missile attacks. The Guardian later reported that it only has about 25 percent of the Patriot missile interceptors that planners at the Pentagon assess are needed for all the US's military operations globally. A US official confirmed that classified number to MEE. Iran receives Chinese surface-to-air missile batteries after Israel ceasefire deal Read More » During the recent conflict with Iran, the US joined directly in Israel's defence using Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (Thaad) batteries and guided-missile destroyers firing SM-3/6 ship-based missiles to shoot down Iranian ballistic missiles. The Trump administration has already pulled at least one older Patriot battery from Israel, a US official told MEE. The US planned to refurbish the system before sending it to Ukraine. It's unclear if that delivery has taken place. According to leaked classified documents, Ukraine received the newer Pac-3 interceptors from the US, the Netherlands and Germany in the early years of Russia's invasion. Israel maintains a stockpile of Pac-2 interceptors, which would also meet Ukraine's needs and address shortages. Israel decommissioned its Pac-2 air-defence systems when it developed its three-tiered air defence of the Iron-dome, David's Sling and Arrow 2 and 3 systems. These systems are co-produced and co-developed with the US. The US is informed of Israeli supplies and production, but one US official familiar with the programme told MEE that it's likely Israel does not disclose its entire production capabilities to the US. Israel, like the US and its other partners, has a motivation to keep its stockpile high. Israel has been reluctant to meet all of Ukraine's demands for weaponry and ammunition since Russia's 2022 invasion. One of Israel's main points was that it could not afford to irk Moscow, which had air defence systems in Syria, but allowed Israeli warplanes freedom of action to bomb Iranian targets. However, Bashar al-Assad, Russia and Iran's ally, was toppled from power in December 2024. Russia has also demurred on providing the Islamic Republic of Iran with S-400 air defence systems, instead selling it the S-300, experts say. 'Israel also needs to take into account its own relations with Russia - who so far has held back supplying certain advanced weapons to Iran,' Caldwell said.
Business Insider
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
US Navy warships picked up multiple new Iranian ballistic missile kills in the latest defense of Israel
US warships intercepted multiple Iranian ballistic missiles aimed at Israel this month, the Navy confirmed over the weekend, sharing new details from its third defense of Israel in a year and a half. Israel launched a new military operation against Iran on June 13, prompting Tehran to retaliate with waves of missile attacks. The US Navy moved five of its Arleigh Burke-class destroyers into the Eastern Mediterranean Sea for support if needed. The destroyers — USS Thomas Hudner, USS Arleigh Burke, USS The Sullivans, USS Oscar Austin, and USS Paul Ignatius — are equipped with high-end interceptors that are specifically designed for ballistic missile defense. Officials had previously confirmed that the US ships were providing air defense for Israel, but it was unclear if they scored any hits. However, in a statement on Sunday, the Navy revealed the destroyers intercepted "multiple" Iranian ballistic missiles since June 14. The Navy did not say which interceptors the destroyers used against the Iranian missiles and referred additional questions to US Central Command, which oversees Middle East operations. Business Insider reached out to CENTCOM for more information but did not receive a response. The disclosure comes as Navy leadership raises concerns that the sea service is burning through one of its top ballistic missile interceptors, the Standard Missile-3. Just last week, Adm. James Kilby, acting chief of naval operations, told lawmakers that American warships were using the SM-3 "at an alarming rate." Navy warships fired multiple SM-3 interceptors to defend Israel from large-scale Iranian missile attacks in April and October of last year. The SM-3 missile is an important element of the Navy's Aegis Combat System, equipped on Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and Ticonderoga-class cruisers. It uses a kinetic kill vehicle to destroy short- to intermediate-range missiles during the midcourse phase of their flight. The SM-3 is produced in multiple variants, which can cost as little as $10 million on the low end and nearly $30 million on the high end, according to the US Missile Defense Agency. Analysts have argued that the Navy is depleting its SM-3 stockpile in the Middle East without sufficient plans to replace it, which could be an issue in a Pacific conflict, where these interceptors would likely be needed in large quantities. China, a leading concern, has a large arsenal of ballistic missiles. And the SM-3 is not the only missile interceptor that the Navy is heavily expending in the Middle East. American warships have fired hundreds of SM-2s and SM-6s to defend against attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. US military planners have said that one of the challenges of the Red Sea conflict is being forced to use expensive interceptors to defeat cheap Houthi drones. Trying to get on the right side of that cost curve — saving the higher-end missiles for more advanced threats — is an ongoing focus in training across NATO.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US Navy warships are firing top ballistic missile interceptors at an 'alarming rate,' admiral says
Since last year, US warships have repeatedly fired SM-3 interceptors to defend Israel from Iranian missiles. A top Navy admiral told lawmakers Tuesday that the SM-3s have been depleted at an "alarming rate." These are assets the US would need in a high-end fight. US Navy warships are burning through one of the top ballistic missile interceptors at an "alarming rate," the admiral overseeing naval operations told lawmakers on Tuesday. During a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz said US forces have expended large amounts of munitions to defend Israel from Iranian strikes during the latest round of conflict in the Middle East and asked whether the Navy has all the Standard Missile-3 interceptors that it needs to be ready for other global threats. Adm. James Kilby, acting chief of naval operations, said that the service does have a sufficient supply of interceptors, but, he said, "we are, to your point, using them at an alarming rate." "As you know, those are missiles procured by the Missile Defense Agency and then delivered to the Navy for our use," he added. "And we are using them quite effectively in the defense of Israel." The SM-3 is a missile interceptor that uses a kinetic kill vehicle to destroy short- to intermediate-range missiles during the mid-course phase of flight. It is part of the Navy's highly advanced Aegis Combat System, equipped on Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and Ticonderoga-class cruisers. Unlike the Navy's other missile interceptors, the SM-3 can engage targets in space. The SM-3 missile comes in multiple variants, which can cost as much as $10 million on the low end and almost $30 million on the high end, according to the MDA. The weapon is made by US defense contractor RTX and, for the newest variant, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The Navy first used the SM-3 interceptor in combat to defend Israel from Iran's unprecedented missile and drone attack in April 2024. American warships then fired the interceptors again several months later, in October, when Tehran launched over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel. A US official told Business Insider last week that Navy warships in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea had launched missile interceptors to defend Israel from Iranian attacks amid the latest round of fighting between the two enemies. The official, however, did not specify what type of interceptors. It is unclear how many SM-3s might have been launched as part of these efforts, and it is also unclear whether there were any confirmed interceptions of Iran's missiles in the latest engagements. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to BI's request for additional information. Navy leadership has previously stated that it needs a lot more SM-3s to counter higher-level threats in the Pacific, like China and its large arsenal of ballistic missiles. Analysts, however, have raised concerns that the sea service is rapidly expending these interceptors in Middle East conflicts without sufficient plans to replace them. The fiscal year 2025 defense budget request cut procurement of SM-3 Block IB interceptors from around 150 to zero over the next five years, and only called for production of a dozen of the newer SM-3 Block IIA variants every year for the same period. The defense appropriation bill reversed some of those plans, providing additional funding for more SM-3 production. In May, the Pentagon awarded a substantial contract to RTX for dozens of SM-3 IBs. And there's also been further support aimed at boosting production of newer SM-3 variants. The outlook for the coming fiscal year isn't totally clear, but the emphasis on missile defense could reflect a favorable environment for increasing SM-3 interceptor stockpiles. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
US Navy warships are firing top ballistic missile interceptors at an 'alarming rate,' admiral says
US Navy warships are burning through one of the top ballistic missile interceptors at an "alarming rate," the admiral overseeing naval operations told lawmakers on Tuesday. During a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz said US forces have expended large amounts of munitions to defend Israel from Iranian strikes during the latest round of conflict in the Middle East and asked whether the Navy has all the Standard Missile-3 interceptors that it needs to be ready for other global threats. Adm. James Kilby, acting chief of naval operations, said that the service does have a sufficient supply of interceptors, but, he said, "we are, to your point, using them at an alarming rate." "As you know, those are missiles procured by the Missile Defense Agency and then delivered to the Navy for our use," he added. "And we are using them quite effectively in the defense of Israel." The SM-3 is a missile interceptor that uses a kinetic kill vehicle to destroy short- to intermediate-range missiles during the mid-course phase of flight. It is part of the Navy's highly advanced Aegis Combat System, equipped on Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and Ticonderoga-class cruisers. Unlike the Navy's other missile interceptors, the SM-3 can engage targets in space. The SM-3 missile comes in multiple variants, which can cost as much as $10 million on the low end and almost $30 million on the high end, according to the MDA. The weapon is made by US defense contractor RTX and, for the newest variant, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The Navy first used the SM-3 interceptor in combat to defend Israel from Iran's unprecedented missile and drone attack in April 2024. American warships then fired the interceptors again several months later, in October, when Tehran launched over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel. A US official told Business Insider last week that Navy warships in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea had launched missile interceptors to defend Israel from Iranian attacks amid the latest round of fighting between the two enemies. The official, however, did not specify what type of interceptors. It is unclear how many SM-3s might have been launched as part of these efforts, and it is also unclear whether there were any confirmed interceptions of Iran's missiles in the latest engagements. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to BI's request for additional information. Navy leadership has previously stated that it needs a lot more SM-3s to counter higher-level threats in the Pacific, like China and its large arsenal of ballistic missiles. Analysts, however, have raised concerns that the sea service is rapidly expending these interceptors in Middle East conflicts without sufficient plans to replace them. The fiscal year 2025 defense budget request cut procurement of SM-3 Block IB interceptors from around 150 to zero over the next five years, and only called for production of a dozen of the newer SM-3 Block IIA variants every year for the same period. The defense appropriation bill reversed some of those plans, providing additional funding for more SM-3 production. In May, the Pentagon awarded a substantial contract to RTX for dozens of SM-3 IBs. And there's also been further support aimed at boosting production of newer SM-3 variants. The outlook for the coming fiscal year isn't totally clear, but the emphasis on missile defense could reflect a favorable environment for increasing SM-3 interceptor stockpiles.
