The United States tested communication links between two Aegis missile defense-equipped destroyers over five days beginning last month, United Press International reported yesterday (see GSN, June 6).
The test involving the USS Benfold and the USS Russell, stationed respectively in the Persian Gulf and Mediterranean Sea, was intended to examine the ability of the U.S. Navy's 5th and 6th fleets to quickly relay information, the Navy Times reported.
The 6th Fleet said in a statement that planning began in 2007 for the "long scheduled" exercise, which began June 28 and ended July 2.
The Navy is building up its capability to trace the course of a potential enemy ballistic missile and then to destroy the weapon. By next year, the service plans to outfit three cruisers and 15 destroyers with Standard Missile 3 interceptors..
The Aegis-equipped destroyers are considered capable of tracking and destroying medium-range missiles fired from the Middle East, including Iran's Shahab 3. The missile's range would enable it to reach Israel or Saudi Arabia (Martin Sieff, United Press International, July 7).