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Interceptor · Sea

Standard Missile 6 (SM-6)

Extended-range naval air defense missile with additional surface and missile-defense roles.

by RTX · First fielded 2013

FieldedInterceptorSeaContract awardOct 1, 2026
A Standard Missile 6 launching from an Army Mid-Range Capability launcher during Exercise Talisman Sabre 25

Photo: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Perla Alfaro · Public domain (PD-USGov-Military-Army)

Milestones20132026
  1. Initial operating capabilitySM-6 achieves initial operational capability, confirmed
  2. Contract awardFive-year multi-year procurement contract (up to $24.4B), confirmed

Timeline2

  1. Initial operating capabilityConfirmed

    SM-6 achieves initial operational capability

    SourcesU.S. Navy

  2. Contract awardConfirmed

    Five-year multi-year procurement contract (up to $24.4B)

    Award: SM-6 multi-year procurement contract (up to $24.40B ceiling)

    SourcesRTX

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
    $4.3M
    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-6 $4.27M per round.

    The War Zone
Earlier cost observations (2)
  • Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) · Unit cost (per round) · $4.3M
    Estimate / observation: 2020-12-11 · Then-year $ · FY2021

    FY2021 Navy budget request average unit price for SM-6 (Block I and Block IA) as reported by The War Zone from official budget documents.

    The War Zone
  • Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) · Unit cost (per round) · $5.5M
    Then-year $ · 14 units

    Army Mid-Range Capability SM-6 Block IA buy, FY 2027 request P-5: $5,497.643K per missile for 14 (FY2026 $5,448.667K for 6). Navy WPN book not machine-fetchable.

    U.S. Army, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller)
Budget by fiscal year
Fiscal yearAppropriationRequestEnactedQtyBudget lineSource
FY2027RDT&E$539M———Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed
FY2027Procurement$4.33B—540—Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed
FY2027Total$4.87B—540—Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed
FY2026RDT&E$413M$512M——Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed
FY2026Procurement$850M$1.41B166—Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed
FY2026Total$1.26B$1.92B166—Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed
FY2025RDT&E—$288M——Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed
FY2025Procurement—$694M78—Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed
FY2025Total—$983M78—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.

Programs & awards1 awards

Linked awards1

All awards →

In service

First fielded
2013

News1

Sources8

  1. 1.
    CompanyRTX's Raytheon awarded $24.4 billion multi-year contract for SM-6 interceptors

    RTX · Oct 1, 2026 · Supports: Government award · ceiling usd, System milestone

    “has secured a five-year contract, with two additional option years, valued up to $24.4 billion for Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) interceptors”
  2. 2.
    NewsWhat The Navy's Ship-Launched Missiles Actually Cost

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

    “The cost for arguably the Navy’s most flexible missileis $4,270,000 per round.”
  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 6 (SM-6) – $4,318,632”
  4. 4.
    Government recordProgram Acquisition Cost by Weapon System: Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request

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

    “Standard Missile-6 ... Qty 78 78 $M 288.3 694.4 982.7 FY”
  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

    “Standard Missile-6 ... 540 $M 539.3 4,332.4 4,871.7”
  6. 6.
    Government recordArmy FY 2027 Budget Estimates: Missile Procurement, Army Justification Book

    U.S. Army, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller) · Supports: Cost · amount

    “SM-6(†) 5,307.571 7 37.153 - - - 5,448.667 6 32.692 5,497.643 14 76.967”
  7. 7.
    Government recordNavy successfully tests new SM-6 capability

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

    “achieved Initial Operational Capability in November 2013.”
  8. 8.
    Government recordStandard Missile

    U.S. Navy · Supports: System

    “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.