Navy ships form first line of missile defense

By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press 11:56 p.m.May 29, 2013
In this March 16, 2013 photo released by U.S. Navy, Sonar Technician (Surface) 1st Class Andrew Murphy, foreground, works with South Korean Navy line officers in the sonar control room of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell during an anti-submarine warfare exercise as part of exercise Foal Eagle 2013 in the West Sea, South Korea. (AP Photo/U.S. Navy, Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Declan Barnes) — AP
The actual target, Navy leaders said, was a spot on the satellite the size of a postage stamp. And the missile, traveling at about 30,000 mph, hit it directly, destroying the satellite's onboard tank of about 1,000 pounds of toxic hydrazine fuel. Officials had been worried about possible injuries, including from the hazardous fuel, if the satellite came down in a populated area.
For Navy leaders, it was a decisive moment, proving publicly that the sensors, radars and missiles could successfully hit an object under real-time, threatening circumstances.
"Our test record speaks for itself," said Gortney, adding that the ships "are there because there are countries that are threatening or have the ability to threaten our partners as well as our forward deployed forces. Having this capability there to be able to defend our allies and our own people is pretty important."

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