Ship-killer, missile shield, air-to-air weapon: Why SM-6 is America's 'three-in-one' missile
The US Navy and British forces conducted a joint sinking exercise to test the versatility of the SM-6 missile. The missile is highlighted for its unique ability to function as an anti-air, anti-ship, and anti-ballistic weapon.
Why it matters
The SM-6 represents a significant shift in naval warfare, offering a multi-role capability that simplifies logistics and enhances defensive flexibility against modern threats.
The US Navy, along with the UK's Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, sent the decommissioned guided-missile frigate Klakring to the bottom of the North Atlantic, using the warship as target practice to test the outer range limits of the SM-6 missile among other munitions. The sinking exercise formed part of Exercise Atlantic Thunder 2026, aimed at sharpening live-fire skills against surface targets while building interoperability between American and British forces for long-range maritime sinking operations.The final blow, however, came not from the SM-6 but from a Mk 48 Advanced Capability Torpedo fired by the Virginia-class submarine Massachusetts, with sensors installed aboard the Klakring beforehand to capture data that will feed into future weapons design.
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