Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 3:52:09-3:53:46

SM-2MR or Sea Dart for a contested deployment

Sea Dart and SM-2MR receive a close comparison before about 1984, while the later preference is for SM-2MR paired with a functioning Aegis system.

Aegis Combat SystemNaval Air DefenceSea DartSM-2 MissileSurface-to-Air Missiles
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Question

Would you rather equip ships in a highly contested area with SM-2MR or Sea Dart?

Short answer

Before about 1984 the choice is close; after that, mature SM-2MR with Aegis is preferable, while Sea Dart remains a capable system in the right ship.

Notes

The missile variant, date, and ship's combat system determine the preferred choice. Before about 1984, Sea Dart and SM-2MR are judged much closer than a comparison using later equipment would suggest. Many of the SM-2MR improvements cited here arrived after the 1982 Falklands War. For a later ship equipped with a functioning Aegis system, SM-2MR is the preferred combination. Sea Dart retains a useful role in the comparison: a British Sea Dart ship protected American battleships as an air-defence goalkeeper during the Gulf War.