Article Posted on : - Jun 29, 2010

Tomahawk missile launches off the aft vertical launching system aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104). US photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Carmichael Yepez/Released.

WASHINGTON (BNS): US Navy has successfully launched two Tomahawk missiles from its guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104) during a weeklong weapons training exercise in the Pacific Ocean.

The training exercise was held from June 21 to 25.

"The missile launch was a success," Pablo Dasalla, lead platform test coordinator, who was on board to observe the launch, said in a US Navy official news release.

According to the release, US Navy chooses a ship every year to test the Tomahawk missiles. The Navy coordinates for three to four months to launch a Tomahawk missile, which involves planning, approval from different organisations, scheduling of range time and fulfilling requirements prior to the missile launch.

The USS Sterett’s crew has worked for four months to maintain its mission readiness by conducting daily drills and training evolutions.

"We've been conducting a simulated land attack missile exercise (SLAMEX), twice a month," Fire Controlman 2nd Class (SW) Elliot Asmah said in the release.

For the first time, guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104) has launched the Tomahawk missile from its vertical launch system.

Dasalla credits the flexibility of USS Sterett's leadership and its crew to the success of the missile launches.