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Sea-Based Missile Defense Test Successful (Aegis cruiser USS Lake Erie)
American Forces Press Service ^ | Steven Donald Smith

Posted on 05/25/2006 9:31:24 PM PDT by SandRat

WASHINGTON, May 25, 2006 – A U.S. Navy ship shot down a long-range ballistic missile in its final seconds of flight during a test yesterday.

It was the first successful ship-launched intercept of a ballistic missile in its terminal phase, U.S. military officials said.

During the Navy and Missile Defense Agency test, Aegis cruiser USS Lake Erie, equipped with technology to detect and track intercontinental ballistic missiles, launched a Standard Missile 2 to intercept a missile fired from the Pacific Missile Range facility on Kauai, Hawaii.

"The test yesterday was an opportunity to see if a modified configuration of the SM-2 sea-based missile was effective against a terminal phase target, and it did succeed in intercepting it," Rick Lehner, an MDA spokesman, said.

In November, USS Lake Erie shot down a missile in mid-flight using the Standard Missile 3 interceptor, which is a mid-course phase interceptor, Lehner said.

The U.S. currently has no active sea-based terminal ballistic missile defense capability.

Prior to yesterday's test, only ground-based interceptors, such as the Patriot Advanced Capability 3, have shot down target missiles in their final descent stage.

"We believe it (yesterday's test) is an important step towards the desired end-state of a robust sea-based terminal ballistic missile defense capability," Navy Rear Adm. Barry McCullough, director of surface warfare on the staff of the chief of naval operations, said. "And it begins to meet an immediate near-term concern of our combatant commanders."


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; US: Hawaii
KEYWORDS: aegis; antimissle; cruiser; defense; erie; lake; miltech; missile; nationaldefense; sdi; seabased; successful; test; usn; uss
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1 posted on 05/25/2006 9:31:26 PM PDT by SandRat
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To: 91B; HiJinx; Spiff; MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; clintonh8r; TEXOKIE; windchime; Grampa Dave; ...

Aegis cruiser USS Lake Erie PING


2 posted on 05/25/2006 9:31:59 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: SandRat

'in it's final seconds' nice...


3 posted on 05/25/2006 9:33:36 PM PDT by kinoxi
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To: kinoxi

How's it going on the death ray?


4 posted on 05/25/2006 9:34:26 PM PDT by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: A CA Guy

progress is being made as we speak. only need about 2.4 billion dollars to complete my study.


5 posted on 05/25/2006 9:36:50 PM PDT by kinoxi
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To: SandRat

Geez, what'll be the repercussions if we offend the enemy we use it against who strikes at us first? Oh...prayers, prayers...! (sarcasm off)


6 posted on 05/25/2006 9:38:22 PM PDT by Solamente (Let all the poisons that lurk in the mud hatch out...)
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To: A CA Guy
How's it going on the death ray?

you mean the "laser"? :)

7 posted on 05/25/2006 9:38:56 PM PDT by Echo Talon
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To: SandRat

Proud of a sister Aegis cruiser...

When's the Charlie cruise?


8 posted on 05/25/2006 10:07:10 PM PDT by AliVeritas ("Quod Deus vult" (Urban II))
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To: Echo Talon; A CA Guy

9 posted on 05/25/2006 10:16:14 PM PDT by rzeznikj at stout (ASCII and ye shall receive... (Computers 3:14))
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To: SandRat

Cool!!


10 posted on 05/25/2006 10:19:52 PM PDT by rzeznikj at stout (ASCII and ye shall receive... (Computers 3:14))
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To: SandRat

Those Standard Missiles are awsome.


11 posted on 05/25/2006 10:30:31 PM PDT by AZRepublican ("The degree in which a measure is necessary can never be a test of the legal right to adopt it.")
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To: SandRat

The USS Lake Erie? I had no idea...My roots namesake!


12 posted on 05/25/2006 10:36:14 PM PDT by hope
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To: rzeznikj at stout

I hear out telepathy warriors are ready to go as well.


13 posted on 05/25/2006 11:34:11 PM PDT by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: A CA Guy
I couldn't find anything with telepathy---but I did find a shark with a frickin "laser" beam attached to its head...8^)


14 posted on 05/25/2006 11:38:47 PM PDT by rzeznikj at stout (ASCII and ye shall receive... (Computers 3:14))
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To: rzeznikj at stout

How about our secret army all through the southern states that are disguised as Mexican gardeners.


15 posted on 05/25/2006 11:43:16 PM PDT by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: A CA Guy


Cards? We don't need no stinkin' cards...8^)

16 posted on 05/25/2006 11:51:31 PM PDT by rzeznikj at stout (ASCII and ye shall receive... (Computers 3:14))
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To: rzeznikj at stout

All of our liberals in the state offer a dual purpose, as human shields.


17 posted on 05/25/2006 11:55:31 PM PDT by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: A CA Guy


I figure you could probably wear this down the street...8^)

18 posted on 05/25/2006 11:57:55 PM PDT by rzeznikj at stout (ASCII and ye shall receive... (Computers 3:14))
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To: rzeznikj at stout
I wouldn't walk that close knowingly to a liberal. Part of how they practice their religion of environmentalism is to NOT BATHE.
19 posted on 05/26/2006 12:01:14 AM PDT by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: A CA Guy

You really wouldn't need to--heck all you'd have to do is either face Frisco or Hollyweird...8^)


20 posted on 05/26/2006 12:02:44 AM PDT by rzeznikj at stout (ASCII and ye shall receive... (Computers 3:14))
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