US, UK test SM-6, other missiles on SINKEX target frigate

USS Savannah (LCS 28) conducts a live-fire demonstration in the Eastern Pacific Ocean utilizing a containerized launching system that fired an SM-6 missile from the ship at a designated target. (US Navy)

WASHINGTON — The US Navy, along with the UK Royal Navy and Air Force, used the decommissioned guided-missile frigate Klakring for target practice this month, in part to test the outer range limits of the SM-6 missile among other munitions tests.

The sinking exercise, or SINKEX , was part of Exercise Atlantic Thunder 2026 and took place in the North Atlantic, the US Navy told reporters today. Its goal was to bolster skills in live-firing against a surface target at sea, as well foster interoperability between the US and the UK for long-range maritime sinking operations , according to the Navy.

“Atlantic Thunder demonstrates the unmatched lethality and interoperability of the United States and United Kingdom,” US Navy Capt. Kelechi Ndukwe, commander of the 6th Fleet’s Task Force 65, said in a statement. “This sinking exercise not only validated the power behind U.S.-UK offensive weapons but delivers a clear message to adversaries that the U.S. Navy and Royal Navy remain a ready allied force.”

Ndukwe said as part of the Sept. 14-25 exercise, the destroyer USS Paul Ignatius fired the SM-6 missile .

“We were testing the surface-to-surface engagement ability at the furthest range that we could,” Ndukwe said. “We were just testing that range.”

Ndukwe did not disclose details surrounding the exact range of testing for SM-6 during a media roundtable with reporters today. The Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank lists its range at nearly 230 miles.

Likewise, Ndukwe confirmed that a Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter launched the new Sea Venom missile, and that the Royal Navy employed its Naval Strike Missile during the exercise as well.

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But the final blow to the Klakring, however, came from an Mk 48 Advanced Capability Torpedo, fired from the Virginia-class submarine Massachusetts.

Ahead of the drill, Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock and Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific installed sensors aboard the Klakring to assist in collecting data from the sinking exercise, which will be used to “really push the envelope on what we’re able to do with future weapons designs,” Ndukwe said.

“We started with the longest-range ordinance, which is why we were going with SM-6 first, and then moved into shorter range,” Ndukwe told reporters. “The embedded sensors that were on the frigate will analyze the data and the impact zones and the more the technical aspect over the course of the next few months as all of that data is processed.”

Additional US and UK units involved in the exercise included the Royal Navy frigate HMS Portland, US Navy and Royal Air Force P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, and US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles, among others.

“The biggest takeaway for us here was we were really proud of the ability to communicate throughout the entirety of the exercise, communicate with each other,” Ndukwe said. “The shared battle damage assessment will ensure that the Navy and our navies will continue to be capable and lethal fighting forces.”

美国海军“萨凡纳”号濒海战斗舰（LCS 28）在东太平洋进行实弹射击演示，使用集装箱式发射系统从舰上向指定目标发射了一枚SM-6导弹。（美国海军）

华盛顿——本月，美国海军与英国皇家海军和空军一起，使用退役的导弹护卫舰“克拉克林”号进行目标练习，部分原因是测试SM-6导弹的射程极限以及其他弹药测试。

美国海军今天告诉记者，此次击沉演习（SINKEX）是“大西洋雷霆2026”联合演习的一部分，在北大西洋举行。海军方面表示，演习旨在提升美英两国在海上实弹射击水面目标的能力，并促进两国在远程海上击沉行动方面的协同作战能力。

美国海军第六舰队第65特遣部队指挥官、海军上校凯莱奇·恩杜克韦在一份声明中表示：“‘大西洋雷霆’演习展现了美国和英国无与伦比的杀伤力和协同作战能力。这次沉船演习不仅验证了美英联合进攻性武器的威力，也向对手传递了一个明确的信息：美国海军和英国皇家海军仍然是一支随时准备作战的盟军。”

恩杜克韦表示，作为 9 月 14 日至 25 日演习的一部分，驱逐舰“保罗·伊格内修斯”号发射了 SM-6 导弹。

恩杜克韦说：“我们当时正在测试地对地交战能力，测试距离尽可能远。我们只是在测试那个距离。”

恩杜克韦今天在与记者举行的媒体圆桌会议上没有透露SM-6导弹测试的具体射程。战略与国际研究中心智库公布的数据显示，其射程接近230英里。

同样，恩杜克韦证实，皇家海军一架野猫直升机发射了新型海毒液导弹，皇家海军还在演习中使用了海军打击导弹。

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传统的设施保护思维必须适应无人机或下游攻击等新威胁。

但最终击沉克拉克林号的，是弗吉尼亚级潜艇马萨诸塞号发射的一枚 Mk 48 先进能力鱼雷。

演习开始前，海军水面作战中心卡德罗克和海军信息战中心太平洋分部在“克拉克林”号上安装了传感器，以协助收集沉没演习的数据。恩杜克韦表示，这些数据将用于“真正推动我们未来武器设计能力的极限”。

恩杜克韦告诉记者：“我们首先选择了射程最远的导弹，也就是SM-6，然后再转向射程较短的导弹。护卫舰上安装的嵌入式传感器将分析数据、弹着点以及其他技术细节，在接下来的几个月里，随着所有数据的处理，我们将进行更深入的研究。”

参与此次演习的其他美国和英国部队包括英国皇家海军护卫舰“波特兰”号、美国海军和英国皇家空军的P-8海上巡逻机以及美国空军的F-15E攻击鹰战斗机等。

恩杜克韦说：“我们此次演习最大的收获是，我们为在整个演习过程中保持沟通、彼此交流的能力感到非常自豪。共同进行的战损评估将确保海军以及我们各国的海军继续保持强大的作战能力和致命的战斗力。”