September 2004, United States Aegis cruisers that can detect and track ballistic missiles have been on patrol in the Sea of Japan as part of the sea based ballistic missile defense program.
On 24 February, 2005, the U.S.S. Lake Erie tested a Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) missile that intercepted and destroyed a target missile outside of the earth’s atmosphere.
The Navy’s system, hasn't received the publicity that the failure prone Air Force effort at ballistic missile defense has, but the Navy and their contractor's have been been much more successful adopting a system that has been operational for many years.
They have had hit-to-kill successes with the Raytheon designed the sea-based Standard Missile-3 on Jan. 25, June 13 and Nov. 21, 2002.
Later, in 2005, the first fully operational Aegis sea based BMD system will be deployed on an Aegis destroyer. MDA will conduct rigorous tests, using this initial deployment to integrate the AN/SPY-1 with SM-3 and improve the accuracy of the interceptor.
In 2006, the Navy will deploy nine Aegis ships outfitted with SM-3 missiles and configured to carry out ballistic missile defense operations from almost anywhere in the world.
Thanks to the Navy, we may have an operating missile defense after all.
Comments