More SM-3 missiles needed in future, Del Toro says

After hundreds of Red Sea attacks on Navy and commercial vessels over the past few months, there's a need for a steady supply of munitions like the Standard Missile-3, which Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro told lawmakers today the service needs more of.

SM-3s will be needed in greater numbers, Del Toro said during a House Armed Services Committee hearing that touched on shipbuilding delays, faltering recruitment numbers and future unmanned technology the Navy plans to invest in.

“I truly believe that SM-3s will be needed in greater numbers in the future, given the operations that took place in defense of Israel here recently, where some were fired and very effectively, so I think given the future threat and our deterrence mission in the Pacific, we are going to need more SM-3s in the future,” Del Toro said.

In April, ahead of Congress’ approval of a $95 billion supplemental spending package, Del Toro called for $2 billion dedicated to replenishing weapons stocks -- including SM-2s, SM-6s and SM-3s -- following heavy defense against Houthi rebel and Iranian attacks on ships in the Red Sea.