The Standard Missile is one of the most reliable in the Navy's inventory. Used against missiles, aircraft and ships. It replaced Terrier and Tartar missiles and is part of the weapons suit of more than 100 Navy ships.
Reliability improvements included all-electric design (hydraulic power for control surfaces was eliminated) and solid-state electronics with the first battery power in a US Missile. These improvements reduced the warm-up time from 27 seconds down to 1/15 of a second.
RIM-66A was an interim missile that used the existing Tartar Mark 27 motor. RIM-66B introduced a new dual-thrust motor to achieve greater speed and range. The SM-1 MR, SM-2 MR and Tartar missiles are virtually identical in appearance but quite different in performance.
| Designation | Standard MR RIM-66A and RIM-66B |
|---|---|
| Ship Class Used On | Many |
| Date In Service | Block III: 1967 Block IV: 1970 |
| Weight | 66A: 1,240 lbs. (562 kg) 66B: 1,390 lbs. (630 kg) |
| Dimensions | 13.5 x 176 in (34 x 447 cm) Span: 42.5 in (108 cm) |
| Payload | 137 lbs. (62 kg) continuous rod |
| Range | 66A: 3,000 - 35,000 yards (2,750 - 32,000 m) 65,000 feet (19,800 m) max altitude 66B: 3,000 - 50,000 yards (2,750 - 45,700 m) 80,000 feet (24,400 m) max altitude |
| Propulsion | Boost-sustainer rocket |
Data from:
- "Naval Weapon Systems 1991/1992" by Norman Friedman
- Navy Fact File