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Old Cruisers Kept To Kill Missiles

April 7, 2008: The success of the U.S. Navy's Aegis system in destroying ballistic missiles, and low orbit satellites, is likely to keep some of the older Aegis equipped ships in commission longer. The first Aegis ships were the Ticonderoga class of cruisers. The first one entered service in 1983, while the 27th, and last one, in 1994. Five have since been retired.

 

As of this year, 18 of the 82 American Aegis equipped ships will have anti-missile/satellite capability. If all Aegis ships were converted, the U.S. would have a formidable, and very flexible, capability to defeat ballistic missiles and low flying spy satellites. So the navy is applying pressure to get money to keep the older Aegis ships (the Ticonderoga's and the first few Arleigh Burke class destroyers) kept in commission for this.

 

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