DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
2000 NAVY PENTAGON
WASHINGTON DC 20350-2000
OPNAVINST 3600.3C
N96
16 Feb 2018
OPNAV INSTRUCTION 3600.3C
From: Chief of Naval Operations
Subj: POLICY FOR THE MATERIAL AND TACTICAL CERTIFICATION OF CRUISE
MISSILE CAPABLE SURFACE SHIPS AND SUBMARINES
Encl: (1) Cruise Missile Certification Guidelines
1. Purpose. To establish guidance for material certification and tactical qualifications of cruise
missile capable surface ships and submarines for the safe operation, maintenance, and tactical
employment of cruise missiles. This instruction is being reissued with a new date, updated
version and signature authority to meet Chief of Naval Operations' age requirement for Office of
the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) instructions.
2. Cancellation. OPNAVINST 3600.3B.
3. Scope and Applicability. This instruction applies to all cruise missile-capable surface ships
and submarines. It provides guidance to assist the governing technical agencies and type
commanders in issuing directives and instructions for cruise missile certifications.
4. Background. Cruise missiles provide a wide range of tactical employment applications.
Technological advances and capability improvements continually broaden the complexity of
cruise missile system maintenance, operation, and employment. The increased war fighting
emphasis on cruise missiles dictates the need to establish and maintain a standard process to train
and qualify shipboard personnel, and to verify the crew’s understanding of cruise missile systems
and their tactical employment. The cruise missile certification process contains two distinct
components: material certification and cruise missile tactical qualification. Cruise missile
capable ships and submarines must attain material certification prior to on-loading conventional
missiles. Material certification validates system integrity, including certification that the system
is safe to load missiles, and evaluates the crew’s ability to safely and effectively maintain and
operate the equipment. Inherent in the material certification process is verification that proper
tools, documentation, maintenance procedures, on board repair parts, test equipment, and system
level knowledge are adequate to support system operation. Additionally, cruise missile capable
ships and submarines must demonstrate and be certified to minimum tactical proficiency skills
necessary to support tactical employment in a variety of scenarios.
5. Responsibilities. The governing technical agencies for cruise missile material certifications
are Program Executive Office, Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons for surface ships and
guided missile submarines (SSGN) and Naval Sea Systems Command for nuclear-powered
