USS Lassen Completes Valiant Shield 2010
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS100923-07
9/23/2010
By Quartermaster Seaman Melissa A. Sequeira, Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs
USS LASSEN, At Sea (NNS) -- The guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) concluded its participation in the Valiant Shield 2010 (VS 10) exercise Sept. 22.
Lassen took part in the large-scale, joint-operations exercises for the past 10 days with the U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps as part of VS10.
The exercise is aimed at increasing the interoperability between U.S. Navy ships and Air Force and Marine Corps aircraft in a complex warfare environment.
During VS10, Lassen conducted a missile exercise.
"The purpose of the [missile] exercise was for U.S. Marine F/A-18 squadrons to test their ability to defend themselves from air to air threats or surface to air threats," said Operations Specialist 1st Class Marico D. Myhand, an air intercept controller aboard Lassen.
With support from Commander Fleet Activities, Okinawa, Lassen launched BQM-74E drone targets from the flight deck. Once launched, a remote operator piloted the drones to provide a more realistic missile threat flight profile. The drones were then targeted, intercepted and engaged by a Marine F/A-18s.
"Valiant Shield is a critical exercise that allows our military to validate our plans, improve our interoperability and incorporate lessons learned into our training and doctrine," said Cmdr. H.B. Le, Lassen's commanding officer. "Lassen was fortunate to work exclusively with the United States Air Force during this year's exercise. Our operators have gained valuable experience and information from the Air Force about what we, the Navy, can do to better to support them as they execute their missions."
Lassen is on a fall deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility, which ranges from the International Dateline to the Indian Ocean.
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