Tag Archives: SM-3

AEGIS BMD – SM-3 First Combat Use Coin Presented to Program Executive

Rob Jobrack, Paul Mann, Rick Easton

Aegis BMD Program Executive, Mr. Paul Mann, was presented the Arleigh Burke commemorative coin on 30 Sept by CAPT (Ret) Rick Easton. The coin commemorates the ship’s April 2024 combat events in the Mediterranean Sea. The events marked the first use of Standard Missile 3 in combat to achieve successful intercepts of ballistic missiles in defense of our Allies.

The presentation was on the 20th anniversary of initial deployment of AEGIS BMD on 9-30-04.

Mr. Mann was a project engineer during successful preparation of the Arleigh Burke for Development and Operational Test.

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AEGIS BMD – 20 Years on Patrol

Long Range Surveillance and Track Capability

Ballistic Missile Defense System Initial Defensive Operations commenced on September 30, 2004, in response to National Security Presidential Directive 23.

Two destroyers, USS Curtis Wilbur and USS John S. McCain were outfitted with the long range surveillance and track capability, supporting defense of the homeland by providing radar track data to the Ground-Based Midcourse system.

Later in October 2004, the initial deployment SM-3 Block I missiles were transferred to the US Navy.

SM-3 Initial Deployment Rounds

Since then, AEGIS BMD, hosted in AEGIS Cruisers and Destroyers has been on patrol, with continuously advancing levels of combat system performance supporting more capable missiles: SM-3 Blocks I, IA, IB, and IIA, and SM-6.

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Success Has Many Parents

Failure has none

The ship was recently in the news with the first combat employment of AEGIS BMD – SM-3. The history of AEGIS BMD – SM-3 is as interesting and convoluted (maybe more) than the development of the ship.

Some of those without whom AEGIS BMD – SM-3 would not have been on station, and maybe not even the ship – BMD provides a fresh relevancy to the AEGIS fleet.

Ronald ReaganGeorge W. BushADM BoordaVADM RemptVADM Williams
RADM MeyerLt Gen KadishLTG O’ReillyDon MitchellRADM (Sel) Grant
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20th Anniversary of FM-2

First sea-based BMD Intercept

On January 25, 2002, USS Lake Erie engaged and successfully intercepted a unitary ballistic missile target with a STANDARD Missile -3.  This was the first successful sea-based BMD intercept and established the momentum for AEGIS BMD that continues until today.

Ballistic Missile Defense is a key mission for USS Arleigh Burke as a FDNF ship. During 2020, USS Arleigh Burke was upgraded with some of the latest ship technologies, including upgraded AEGIS BMD programs, in preparation for joining the forward deployed forces in Rota in 2021.

Read more here: A short history of AEGIS BMD