SM-3 Lightweight Exo-Atmospheric Projectile Kinetic Warhead (LEAP KW)

From Raytheon:

SM-3 Lightweight Exo-Atmospheric Projectile Kinetic Warhead: Bringing Navy Theater Ballistic Missile Defense to Reality.

Navy Theater Wide (NTW)
The United States Navy is developing STANDARD Missile-3 (SM-3) as part of the Navy Theater Wide (NTW) system that will provide allied forces and U.S. protection from theater ballistic missiles. The SM-3 Lightweight Exo-Atmospheric Projectile (LEAP) Kinetic Warhead (KW) is designed to intercept an incoming theater ballistic missile outside the earth�s atmosphere. [more...]

I came across this while looking at other things and became curious.

According to Raytheon, this weapon is capable of intercepting ballistic missiles in all phases of flight, including while in space.

The Standard Missile weapons family is used widely throughout U.S. fleets, so an ABM variant like this could be rapidly deployed around the world.

The ability for U.S. fleets to shoot down ballistic missiles obviously influences strategic balances on the world scene.

I'm interested in any opinions my fellow members may have regarding the SM-3 missile, Standard Missile system and the effects that a comprehensive anti-ballistic missile capability for U.S. fleets has on the world military picture.

GlobalSecurity.org: RIM-161 SM-3 (AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense)

GlobalSecurity.org: RIM-66 / RIM-67 Standard Missile - SM-1 / SM-2 / SM-3


[edit on 11/9/2004 by Majic]