Combat Camera: U.S. Navy Ballistic Missile Flight Test

PACIFIC OCEAN (April 26, 2007) - A Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) is launched from the guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70), during a joint Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Navy ballistic missile flight test. Approximately three minutes later, the SM-3 intercepted a unitary (non-separating) ballistic missile threat target, launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii. Within moments of this launch, the USS Lake Erie also launched a Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) against a hostile air target in order to defend herself. The test was the eighth intercept, in 10 program flight tests. The test was designed to show the capability of the ship and its crew to conduct ballistic missile defense and at the same time defend herself. This test also marks the 27th successful hit-to-kill intercept in tests since 2001. U.S. Navy photo (RELEASED)

PACIFIC OCEAN (April 26, 2007) - A Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) is launched from the guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70), during a joint Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Navy ballistic missile flight test. Approximately three minutes later, the SM-3 intercepted a unitary (non-separating) ballistic missile threat target, launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii. Within moments of this launch, the USS Lake Erie also launched a Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) against a hostile air target in order to defend herself. The test was the eighth intercept, in 10 program flight tests. The test was designed to show the capability of the ship and its crew to conduct ballistic missile defense and at the same time defend herself. This test also marks the 27th successful hit-to-kill intercept in tests since 2001. U.S. Navy photo (RELEASED)

PACIFIC OCEAN (April 26, 2007) - USS Lake Erie launches a Standard Missile -2 (SM-2) against a hostile air target during a joint Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Navy ballistic missile flight test. The test was the eighth intercept, in 10 program flight tests, by the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense, the maritime component of the "Hit-to-Kill" Ballistic Missile Defense System, being developed by the Missile Defense Agency. The test was designed to show the capability of the ship and its crew to conduct ballistic missile defense and at the same time defend herself. This test also marks the 27th successful hit-to-kill intercept in tests since 2001. U.S. Navy photo (RELEASED)

PACIFIC OCEAN (April 26, 2007) - A short range unitary (non separating) ballistic missile target is launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, as part of a joint Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Navy ballistic missile flight test. Minutes later, a Standard Missile - 3 (SM-3), launched from the Aegis cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70), intercepted the target 100 miles above the ocean, 250 miles northwest of Kaua'i. At the same time, the USS Lake Erie also launched a Standard Missile - 2 (SM-2) against a hostile air target, dropped from a Navy plane, in order to defend herself. This test also marks the 27th successful hit-to-kill intercept in tests since 2001. U.S. Navy photo (RELEASED)

Aegis BMD (FTM-11) Stellar Hunters Quick Release

First successful simultaneous engagement of a short range ballistic missile (SRBM) and a anti-air warfare (AAW) target by the Aegis BMD 3.6 Weapon System. USS Lake Erie launched and guided a Standard Missile-3 (SM-3)Blk IA missile to a successful intercept of a SRBM and a SM-2 Blk IIIA to the intercept of a low-altitude cruise missile. Approved for release 26 Apr 2007.

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