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United States Raytheon (RTX)
SM-2 (Standard Missile-2)
The U.S. Navy's primary medium-to-long-range fleet air-defense missile and a cornerstone of the Aegis layered defense, engaging anti-ship missiles and aircraft out to about 90 nautical miles and 65,000 ft. Fired from the Mk 41 and Mk 57 Vertical Launching Systems, it remains in production in its latest Block IIIC form (which adds an active radar seeker). More than 12,000 have been delivered with over 2,800 successful flight tests, and it was used operationally to intercept Houthi anti-ship missiles and drones in the Red Sea in 2024.
In service since 1978 · 11 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-16
170
km range
3.5
Mach
Pricing: Over 12,000 delivered; still in production as Block IIIC
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
US ITAR-controlled
Export needs U.S. State Dept (DDTC) approval; end-use & re-transfer restrictions apply.
Channel: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sale
Fielded & proven
Established · 11 operators
In service since 1978. Status: active · ~12,000 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters. | 3.5 Mach |
|---|---|
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 170 km |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Warhead type Blast-fragmentation, shaped charge (HEAT), penetrator, thermobaric or nuclear-capable. | Blast fragmentation |
|---|---|
| Guidance How the weapon finds its target: inertial, GPS/GLONASS, active/semi-active radar, infrared, laser, TV, wire. | Command guidance, Inertial midcourse, Semi-active radar homing, Active radar homing (Block IIIC) |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 4.72 m |
|---|---|
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 707 kg |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Dual-thrust solid-fuel rocket (Mk 72 booster on extended-range variants) |
|---|
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 12,000 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 11 |
Specifications compiled from public Raytheon (RTX) and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-16.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the range of the Raytheon (RTX) SM-2 (Standard Missile-2)? +
The Raytheon (RTX) SM-2 (Standard Missile-2) has a maximum range of 170 km.
How much does the Raytheon (RTX) SM-2 (Standard Missile-2) weigh? +
The Raytheon (RTX) SM-2 (Standard Missile-2) has a combat weight of 707 kg.
What is the Raytheon (RTX) SM-2 (Standard Missile-2) used for? +
The Raytheon (RTX) SM-2 (Standard Missile-2) is a missile typically used for air defense.
How many countries operate the Raytheon (RTX) SM-2 (Standard Missile-2)? +
The Raytheon (RTX) SM-2 (Standard Missile-2) is operated by 11 countries.
How much does the Raytheon (RTX) SM-2 (Standard Missile-2) cost? +
Raytheon (RTX) SM-2 (Standard Missile-2): Over 12,000 delivered; still in production as Block IIIC. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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