The US littoral combat ship USS Savannah has launched the Standard Missile 6 missile interceptor, which can attack air and ground targets, for the first time

The US Navy conducted an exercise involving the Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Savannah (LCS 28). During the event, it launched Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) for the first time.

Here's What We Know

The exercise was a demonstration of the feasibility of integrating a containerised launch system onto littoral combat ships like LCS. The SM-6 can be used both as an anti-aircraft missile to intercept airborne threats and to strike enemy ground targets.

A few weeks ago, the USS Savannah (LCS 28) was spotted with a Mk 70 portable launcher. It is designed by Lockheed Martin and can launch both SM-6 anti-aircraft missiles and Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The Mk 70 consists of four cells of the Mk 41 Vertical Launch System housed in a 12 metre container. It was introduced by Lockheed Martin just over two years ago. The SM-6 Block I has a launch range of 240 kilometres and the Tomahawk cruise missile can engage targets within a range of 1,600 kilometres.

In fact, the Mk 70 is compatible with all missiles that the Mk 41 system can launch. The US Army uses the Mk 70 in its Mid-Range Capability programme. The military service recently conducted test launches of Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Source: Naval News