The Royal Australian Navy has often used the term “lethality”. A sign that the Standard 6, in addition to defense, can also turn the offensive front. It certainly works. The Australian Navy tested it for the first time last week in what military officials called “a success”. The American-made Standard missile 6 (also known as SM6), represents a radical change in the air and missile defense and long-range strike capability of the Royal Australian Navy’s surface fleet. The test was conducted aboard the cruiser HMAS Sydney, from where the missile was launched, but the SM6 will soon be deployed on Hobart-class destroyers and Hunter-class frigates. “This is a milestone in enhancing the lethality of the Navy’s surface fleet, in line with the Government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s National Defense Strategy,” the Royal Australian Navy underlined in a statement. Australia’s government, led by Labor’s Albanese, is strengthening the country’s deterrence, particularly the navy’s long-range strike capabilities to provide a greater ability to engage sea, land and air targets at ever greater ranges. The addition of the SM6, in this regard, augments the integrated air and missile defense platforms. Australia has three guided missile destroyers in service, to which it will add the Aegis baseline 9 combat system, which will provide the ability to counter air threats, including ballistic missiles. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has established the basic architecture for linking active missile defense systems through the development of the Joint Air Battle Management System, which provides the foundation for additional capabilities to be added over time. The launch of the Standard 6 missile was conducted during exercise Pacific Dragon 2024, which was held off Hawaii, and follows the successful first-in-class launch of a naval strike missile from HMAS Sydney during Rimpac 2024 training in July. “This is another example of the acceleration of critical capability acquisitions for the Australian Navy, which improves lethality within the surface combatant fleet and the ADF’s ability to safeguard Australians and their interests,” said Australian Defence Minister Pat Conroy. “The SM6 was procured from the United States and will provide the Navy’s surface combatants with an enhanced air and missile defence capability, increasing the lethality and survivability of the fleet.”
