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Interceptor · Multi-domain

Standard Missile 3 (SM-3)

Ship- and land-launched interceptor for ballistic missile defense above the atmosphere.

by RTX

FieldedInterceptorMulti-domainFieldedDec 2005
rtx.com/raytheon/what-we-do/strategic-missile-defense/sm-3-interceptor
A Standard Missile 3 launching from cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67) during a ballistic missile defense flight test

Photo: U.S. Navy photo · Public domain (PD-USGov-Military-Navy)

Timeline1

  1. FieldedConfirmed

    Nine Block I missiles available for operational use

    GAO reports nine SM-3 Block I missiles ready by December 2005; this is an availability milestone, not an assertion of a precise first fielding day.

    SourcesU.S. Government Accountability Office

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 (flyaway)Confirmed
    $29.9M
    Then-year $ · 22 units

    SM-3 Block IIA flyaway unit cost, FY 2027 discretionary request (MD14): $29.893M for 22 missiles (FY2025 $28.703M; FY2026 $28.686M). SM-3 Block IB flyaway (MD09) FY2026: $17.890M for 26.

    Missile Defense Agency / Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)
  • Unit cost (per round)Reported
    $12.5M
    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-3 Block IB $12.51M; Block IIA $28.7M.

    The War Zone
Earlier cost observations (1)
  • Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) · Unit cost (per round) · $11.8M
    Estimate / observation: 2020-12-11 · Then-year $ · FY2021

    SM-3 Block IB FY2021 unit price (MDA budget) as reported by The War Zone from official budget documents. SM-3 Block IIA in same article: $36,387,000.

    The War Zone
Budget by fiscal year
Fiscal yearAppropriationRequestEnactedQtyBudget lineSource
FY2027Procurement$5.46B—214—Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Estimated
FY2026Procurement$462M$1.33B54—Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Estimated
FY2025Procurement—$633M18—Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed

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.

Sources8

  1. 1.
    NewsWhat The Navy's Ship-Launched Missiles Actually Cost

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

    “The extremely high tech multi-stage SM-3s come in at $12,510,000 for the Block IB, and $28,700,000 for the Block IIA.”
  2. 2.
    NewsHere Is What Each Of The Navy's Ship-Launched Missiles Actually Costs

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

    “Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) Block IB – $11,830,000”
  3. 3.
    Government recordProgram Acquisition Cost by Weapon System: Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request

    Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller) · Supports: Cost · amount

    “Aegis-Based Defense Weapons System ... 1,070.2 18 633.4 12 462.0 Procurement (HW/SW Installs)”
  4. 4.
    Government recordMissile Defense Agency FY 2027 Budget Estimates: Procurement, Defense-Wide (Volume 2b)

    Missile Defense Agency / Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller) · Supports: Cost · amount

    “SM-3 Block IIA ... Flyaway Unit Cost ($ in Millions) 53.032 28.703 28.686 29.893 - 29.893”
  5. 5.
    Government recordProgram Acquisition Cost by Weapon System: Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request

    Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller) · Supports: Cost · amount

    “Aegis-Based Defense Weapons System ... 885.7 16 350.0 42 825.0 - - 78 ... 78 1,245.8 65.0 12 509.8 22 779.0 114”
  6. 6.
    Government recordGAO-06-327: Missile Defense Agency Fields Initial Capability but Falls Short of Original Goals

    U.S. Government Accountability Office · Supports: System, System milestone

    “SM-3 missiles were ready for operational use by December 2005”
  7. 7.
    Government recordAegis Combat System

    U.S. Navy · Supports: System

    “The SM-3, an evolution of the Standard Missile family, is a four-stage rocket”
  8. 8.
    CompanySM-3 Interceptor

    RTX · Supports: System

    “The SM-3 interceptor is a critical piece of the Phased Adaptive Approach”

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