• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

USS Lake Erie Makes Naval History

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050304-02
Release Date: 3/4/2005 6:40:00 AM

By Journalist 2nd Class Devin Wright, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- The guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) returned to Pearl Harbor on Feb. 25 after participating in the latest Missile Defense Agency (MDA) test of the AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program and the Standard Missile 3 (SM-3).

The latest program test was designed to evaluate the operationally configurated SM-3 and its ability to intercept and destroy short- to medium-range ballistic missiles.

The target missile was shot from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai. At 11:03 a.m., one minute later, Lake Erie launched the SM-3 from its patrol area located more than 100 miles from Kauai. The intercept was achieved about two minutes after the SM-3 was launched.

"We knew the missile was going to be launched," said Lt. Cmdr. Paul Wingeart, combat systems officer, USS Lake Erie. "We just didn't know when. When we detected the missile, we tracked it, then launched the interceptor and were successful," said Wingeart.

Chief Fire Controlman Technician (SW) Richard Thompson of USS Lake Erie believes this missile defense program is a milestone for the entire Navy.

"Fortunately, we have been designated as the MDA test ship," said Thompson. "But this intercept is not only important to the Lake Erie, but to the entire United States Navy. Lake Erie is on the cutting edge. We get to test all the systems and help develop the tactics that the entire Navy is going to use once this becomes an operational system. It feels great to be a part of something that will not only help defend the citizens of the United States, but our allies as well," Thompson said.

Fire Controlman 2nd Class (SW) Dennis Nystrom of USS Lake Erie was the first crew member to spot the ballistic missile on the ships SPY-1B radar.

"I spotted the missile on our radar and called away the track number," said Nystrom. "That started everything in motion. We were all really anxious just before the captain gave us permission to launch the SM-3. When we hit the ballistic missile, it was a great feeling. We were all jumping for joy. You know when you put two or three months of work into a project whose end result is over in just a matter of seconds, it's an adrenaline rush," Nystrom said.

While the AEGIS weapons system, the foundation of the ballistic missile defense, is currently installed on 68 Navy ships, Lake Erie is the only Navy ship that has intercepted a ballistic missile.