Standard missile: A cornerstone of Navy theater air missile defense

Standard Missile is the primary Navy Fleet anti-air missile system. Its his tory stems from requirements established by the Navy in 1945, and it has ev olved continuously as driven by continual changes in the threat and operati ng conditions of our naval forces. Over the years, the need for an advanced weapon capability has led to intense systems efforts involving universitie s, government laboratories, and industry. This article examines the history , major development efforts, and future of Standard Missile.