RIM-113
Encyclopedia
The RIM-113 Shipboard Intermediate Range Combat System, or SIRCS, was an advanced surface-to-air missile proposed by the United States Navy
in the 1970s. The project failed to be approved for funding and was cancelled in 1979.
attack in 1976. Based on the previous Anti-Ship Missile Defense (ASMD) studies and known as the Shipboard Intermediate Range Combat System, the new missile was intended as a replacement for the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow
as the standard point-defense weapon for U.S. Navy ships, with the specification calling for the capability to engage between four and fourteen independent targets at once, depending on the size of the launching ship.
/Martin-Marietta, McDonnell Douglas
/Sperry
, and Raytheon
/Lockheed/Univac
- for initial studies of the SIRCS missile concept, in anticipation of a competitive evaluation.
By 1978, the study phase of development was completed. The McDonnell Douglas/Sperry team had examined the use of the British Aerospace
Sea Wolf missile, which failed to meet the full specification, but was the only existing missile that approached the SIRCS requirements. Sea Wolf was anticipated to be able to enter service in 1979 if selected; a newly designed missile would push the expected in-service date to 1983. However, the United States Congress
refused to allocate funding for the further development of the RIM-113 missile. A proposal was made for joint development of SIRCS with the U.S. Air Force's AMRAAM project;, but this came to naught, and the RIM-113 was cancelled in 1979.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in the 1970s. The project failed to be approved for funding and was cancelled in 1979.
Concept
The United States Navy Naval Surface Weapons Center begain the development of an advanced surface-to-air missile for defense against cruise missileCruise missile
A cruise missile is a guided missile that carries an explosive payload and is propelled, usually by a jet engine, towards a land-based or sea-based target. Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a large warhead over long distances with high accuracy...
attack in 1976. Based on the previous Anti-Ship Missile Defense (ASMD) studies and known as the Shipboard Intermediate Range Combat System, the new missile was intended as a replacement for the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow
RIM-7 Sea Sparrow
RIM-7 Sea Sparrow is a US ship-borne short-range anti-aircraft and anti-missile weapon system, primarily intended for defense against anti-ship missiles...
as the standard point-defense weapon for U.S. Navy ships, with the specification calling for the capability to engage between four and fourteen independent targets at once, depending on the size of the launching ship.
Development and cancellation
The designation XRIM-113A, indicating an experimental ship-launched interceptor missile, was allocated to the SIRCS project in May 1976, and contracts were awarded to three separate teams of contractors - RCARCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
/Martin-Marietta, McDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Douglas was a major American aerospace manufacturer and defense contractor, producing a number of famous commercial and military aircraft. It formed from a merger of McDonnell Aircraft and Douglas Aircraft in 1967. McDonnell Douglas was based at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport...
/Sperry
Sperry
-Persons:*Armstrong Sperry , American author and illustrator*Brett Sperry , American video game designer*Carlos A. Sperry, Democratic President of the West Virginia Senate from Greenbrier County, served 1872-1872...
, and Raytheon
Raytheon
Raytheon Company is a major American defense contractor and industrial corporation with core manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. It was previously involved in corporate and special-mission aircraft until early 2007...
/Lockheed/Univac
UNIVAC
UNIVAC is the name of a business unit and division of the Remington Rand company formed by the 1950 purchase of the Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation, founded four years earlier by ENIAC inventors J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly, and the associated line of computers which continues to this day...
- for initial studies of the SIRCS missile concept, in anticipation of a competitive evaluation.
By 1978, the study phase of development was completed. The McDonnell Douglas/Sperry team had examined the use of the British Aerospace
British Aerospace
British Aerospace plc was a UK aircraft, munitions and defence-systems manufacturer. Its head office was in the Warwick House in the Farnborough Aerospace Centre in Farnborough, Hampshire...
Sea Wolf missile, which failed to meet the full specification, but was the only existing missile that approached the SIRCS requirements. Sea Wolf was anticipated to be able to enter service in 1979 if selected; a newly designed missile would push the expected in-service date to 1983. However, the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
refused to allocate funding for the further development of the RIM-113 missile. A proposal was made for joint development of SIRCS with the U.S. Air Force's AMRAAM project;, but this came to naught, and the RIM-113 was cancelled in 1979.