Article Posted on : - Apr 04, 2013

Aegis Combat System. A Lockheed Martin photo.

MOORESTOWN, N J (BNS): The Lockheed Martin's Aegis Combat System has recently completed a live fire test, using the system's newest capability build, Baseline 9.

During the at-sea test scenario, Aegis successfully detected, tracked and engaged a medium-altitude subsonic target from the USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), the Company said.

During the exercise, the USS Chancellorsville's Aegis Weapon System sent tracking orders to the ship's gun system by performing ballistic computations, providing pointing orders, readying ammunition and firing five-inch projectiles- all while striking the target high overhead with an SM-2 missile.

Four additional live firing exercises will be completed aboard the USS Chancellorsville before the ship's Combat System Ship Qualification Trial (CSSQT) events begin later this year.

The ship is the first of four Aegis cruisers scheduled for Baseline 9 modernisation. USS Normandy (CG 60), the next ship to receive upgrades, is nearing the end of the industrial phase of modernisation and USS Princeton (CG 59) and USS Cape St. George (CG 71) are next in line to enter their availability periods.