Steeljaw Scribe

Since the program began, Aegis BMD has been concentrated on the West Coast and with the FDNF.  Now, however, two more ships - this time on the East Coast, have undergone the modifications and one, the USS RAMAGE (DDG 61) has begun a deployment with the SM-3 Blk1a missile onboard (full article here  ): 

“She is loaded,” [...]

Deterrence. Preventing war is preferable to fighting wars. Deterring aggression must be viewed in global, regional, and transnational terms via conventional, unconventional, and nuclear means. Effective Theater Security Cooperation activities are a form of extended deterrence, creating security and removing conditions for conflict. Maritime ballistic missile defense will enhance deterrence by providing an umbrella of [...]

Ballistic missile defense from the sea - over the last six months the concept has moved further from test and development to operational reality.  Demonstrated capabilities are expanding the envelope and being delivered to certain designated ships within the fleet.  The question is - in describing these recent advances in ballistic missile defense, including the [...]

SM-2 Intercept of SRBM 5 Jun 08  

Aegis, Sm-2 Interceptors Kill Target Missile In Terminal-Phase Success
(DEFENSE DAILY 06 JUN 08) … Dave Ahearn
The Aegis weapon control system guided two Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) Block IV interceptors that obliterated a target missile in its terminal phase of flight, as the foreign-built unitary Scud-like target missile descended [...]

At the end of a very long day/night for YHS (that has stretched into the bright new dawn…):

American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 2008 - A network of land-, air-, sea- and spaced-based sensors confirms that the U.S. military intercepted a non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite which was in its final orbits before entering [...]

UPDATE: 20 Feb (21 Feb UTC) MARK INDIA - all indications intercept successful  .  More to follow…
In the 24 hours since the press conference   announcing the decision to use a special modification of the Aegis BMD/SM-3 system to mitigate risk from the failed NRO satellite, reaction across the ‘verse (net) has been, well, predictable:
“It’s [...]

This is an Aegis Destroyer:

This is an Aegis Cruiser:

This is an SM-3, launched from an Aegis Cruiser or Destroyer:

This is a Delta, used to launch satellites.  From land.  Not ships.

Class over, back to your regularly scheduled programming…
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