The extended-range Standard missile discussion gives speed, ceiling, fuse, and changing range figures before turning to an uncertain Cold War possibility. Early variants may have retained the capacity for a nuclear warhead, although this is presented as suspicion rather than a confirmed fit. Such an option could have been intended for mass bomber or missile raids. Mutually assured destruction made any nuclear use a serious escalation risk, even in air defence.
Notable Point · 25:46-27:10
Standard missile range meets Cold War nuclear doctrine
The SM-2ER performance discussion opens a wider question about whether early long-range naval air-defence missiles retained a nuclear-warhead option.