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Interceptor · Sea

Standard Missile 2 (SM-2)

Ship-launched surface-to-air missile family for fleet air defense.

by RTX · First fielded 1981

FieldedInterceptorSeaFielded1981
navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2169011/standard-missile
Destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) launching a Standard Missile 2 during a live-fire exercise

Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Zachary Van Nuys · Public domain (PD-USGov-Military-Navy)

Timeline1

  1. FieldedConfirmed

    SM-2 medium-range variant deployed

    SourcesU.S. Navy

Solid entries are confirmed, outlined reported, dashed estimated or still to come; dotted italic entries are speculative. Dates show only the precision the sources give.

Cost to the government

  • Unit cost (per round)Reported
    $2.1M
    Estimate / observation: 2026-03-05

    Business Insider (March 2026, Iran war interceptor costs): 'SM-2s run about $2.1 million each.' Variant and basis not specified; approximate press figure.

    Business Insider
Earlier cost observations (2)
  • Standard Missile 2 (SM-2) · Unit cost (per round) · $2.5M
    Estimate / observation: 2024-05-21 · Then-year $

    The War Zone (May 2024), based on Pentagon budget documents of the prior five years, rounded to nearest $10,000: SM-2 Block IIIC conversion kit (Block IIIA/B to IIIC) costs the Navy $2.53M each; Block IIIAZ kit $770,000.

    The War Zone
  • Standard Missile 2 (SM-2) · Unit cost (per round) · $2.3M
    Estimate / observation: 2020-12-11 · Then-year $ · FY2021

    FY2021 Navy budget request unit price for SM-2 Block IIIC as reported by The War Zone from official budget documents. This is the cost of the conversion kit that turns existing SM-2 Block IIIA/IIIB missiles into Block IIIC (active radar homing), not a new-build round. Block IIIAZ (Zumwalt) kit: $1.2M.

    The War Zone

Unit costs and contract unit prices for this product, and budget figures for the programs that buy it. Each figure states its dollar basis and links its source; contract values are under Programs & awards.

In service

First fielded
1981

Sources4

  1. 1.
    NewsMissiles flying across the Middle East: the air defense price tag grows

    Business Insider · Mar 5, 2026 · Supports: Cost · amount

    “SM-2s run about $2.1 million each.”
  2. 2.
    NewsWhat The Navy's Ship-Launched Missiles Actually Cost

    The War Zone · May 21, 2024 · Supports: Cost · amount

    “The cost of each of these kits to the Navy is $2,530,000.”
  3. 3.
    NewsHere Is What Each Of The Navy's Ship-Launched Missiles Actually Costs

    The War Zone · Dec 11, 2020 · Supports: Cost · amount

    “Standard Missile 2 (SM-2) Block IIIC – $2,349,000”
  4. 4.
    Government recordStandard Missile

    U.S. Navy · Supports: System, System milestone

    “1981 (SM-2 MR)”

Each fact on this page is attached to the sources that support it. Archived copies are linked when we keep one.