Patch image contributed by Mike Smolinski

Patch image contributed by Mike Smolinski

At sea, 25 January 2002 - A Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) leaves the ships vertical launch system (VLS) during a combined Missile Defense Agency and U.S. Navy flight test, conducted in the continuing development of a Sea-Based Midcourse (SMD) Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). Test involved the launch of a developmental Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) equipped with a kinetic warhead (KW) interceptor controlled from the Aegis Cruiser, and an Aries target missile launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. The SM-3 acquired, tracked, and diverted toward the target, successfully demonstrating the SM-3 fourth-stage Kinetic Warhead (KW) guidance, navigation and control.

U.S. Navy Photo #020125-N-0000X-001 .

12 December 2003 - An SM-3 is launched from the Aegis cruiser USS Lake Erie as part of the Missile Defense Agency's latest Ballistic Missile Defense System test to defeat a medium-range ballistic missile threat. The missile, part of the Aegis Weapon System, intercepted a target launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on the Hawaiian island of Kauai 11 December. This was the fourth successful intercept for Aegis BMD and SM-3. The test included evaluation of the long-range surveillance and tracking capabilities of two Navy ships as well as effective communications between the ships and command and control units.

U.S. Navy photo.

2 July 2004 - The U.S. Navy guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) proudly displaying its golden bow anchor, pierside at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The golden anchor symbolizes a high retention rate of shipboard personnel. The ship is participating in this year's Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise 2004. RIMPAC is the largest international maritime exercise in the waters around the Hawaiian Islands. This year’s exercise includes seven participating nations; Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, South Korea, United Kingdom and United States. RIMPAC is intended to enhance the tactical proficiency of participating units in a wide array of combined operations at sea, while enhancing stability in the Pacific Rim region.

U.S. Navy photo #040702-N-4304S-006 by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Bradley J. Sapp.

17 November 2005 - Standard Missile - 3 (SM-3) is launched from the Pearl Harbor-based Aegis cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG-70), during a joint Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Navy ballistic missile flight test today. Minutes later, the SM-3 intercepted a separating ballistic missile threat target, launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii. The test was the sixth intercept, in seven flight tests, by the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense, the maritime component of the "Hit-to-Kill" Ballistic Missile Defense System, being developed by the Missile Defense Agency. All previous Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense flight tests were against unitary (non-separating) targets.

U.S. Navy Photo

17 November 2005 - Standard Missile - 3 (SM-3) is launched from the Pearl Harbor-based Aegis cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG-70), during a joint Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Navy ballistic missile flight test today. Minutes later, the SM-3 intercepted a separating ballistic missile threat target, launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii. The test was the sixth intercept, in seven flight tests, by the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense, the maritime component of the "Hit-to-Kill" Ballistic Missile Defense System, being developed by the Missile Defense Agency. All previous Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense flight tests were against unitary (non-separating) targets.

U.S. Navy Photo

17 November 2005 - Standard Missile - 3 (SM-3) is launched from the Pearl Harbor-based Aegis cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG- 0), during a joint Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Navy ballistic missile flight test today. Minutes later, the SM-3 intercepted a separating ballistic missile threat target, launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii. The test was the sixth intercept, in seven flight tests, by the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense, the maritime component of the "Hit-to-Kill" Ballistic Missile Defense System, being developed by the Missile Defense Agency. All previous Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense flight tests were against unitary (non-separating) targets.

U.S. Navy Photo

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii, 04 September 2007 - The crew of guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) mans the rails as the ship returns home following a four-month deployment to the Western Pacific. While deployed, the ship took part in Exercise Talisman Saber and escorted aircraft carriers USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and USS Nimitz (CVN 68).

U.S. Navy photo #070904-N-4965F-002 by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. Foehl.

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii, 7 December 2007 - Sailors stationed aboard guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) man the rails and render honors to USS Arizona Memorial and Pearl Harbor survivors as part of a pass-in-review during a joint U.S. Navy/National Park Service ceremony commemorating the 66th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. More than 2,500 distinguished guests and the general public joined Sailors, Pearl Harbor survivors and their families and friends on board Naval Station Pearl Harbor for the annual observance.

U.S. Navy photo #071207-N-4965F-006 by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. Foehl.

PACIFIC OCEAN, 20 February 2008 - A single modified tactical Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) launches from the U.S. Navy AEGIS cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70), successfully impacting a non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite approximately 247 kilometers (133 nautical miles) over the Pacific Ocean, as it traveled in space at more than 17,000 mph. President George W. Bush decided to bring down the satellite because of the likelihood that the satellite could release hydrazine fuel upon impact, possibly in populated areas.

U.S. Navy photo #80220-N-XXXXX-025

PACIFIC OCEAN, 20 February 2008 - A single modified tactical Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) launches from the U.S. Navy AEGIS cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70), successfully impacting a non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite approximately 247 kilometers (133 nautical miles) over the Pacific Ocean, as it traveled in space at more than 17,000 mph. President George W. Bush decided to bring down the satellite because of the likelihood that the satellite could release hydrazine fuel upon impact, possibly in populated areas.

U.S. Navy photo #080220-N-XXXXX-032

PACIFIC OCEAN, 20 February 2008 - A single modified tactical Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) launches from the U.S. Navy AEGIS cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70), successfully impacting a non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite approximately 247 kilometers (133 nautical miles) over the Pacific Ocean, as it traveled in space at more than 17,000 mph. President George W. Bush decided to bring down the satellite because of the likelihood that the satellite could release hydrazine fuel upon impact, possibly in populated areas.

U.S. Navy photo #080220-N-XXXXX-036

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii, 22 February 2008 - The Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) passes the Battleship Missouri Memorial as she makes her way pier side at Naval Station Pearl Harbor. Lake Erie fired a modified Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) on 20 February, which successfully destroyed a malfunctioning U.S. reconnaissance satellite approximately 247 kilometers (133 nautical miles) over the Pacific Ocean traveling in space at more than 17,000 mph.

U.S. Navy photo # 080222-N-4965F-549 by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. Foehl.

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii, 22 February 2008 - The Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) returns to Naval Station Pearl Harbor after firing a single modified Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) on 20 February which successfully destroyed a malfunctioning U.S. reconnaissance satellite approximately 247 kilometers (133 nautical miles) over the Pacific Ocean traveling in space at more than 17,000 mph.

U.S. Navy photo #080222-N-4965F-553 by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. Foehl.

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii, 22 February 2008 - The Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) returns to Naval Station Pearl Harbor after firing a single modified Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) on 20 February which successfully destroyed a malfunctioning U.S. reconnaissance satellite approximately 247 kilometers (133 nautical miles) over the Pacific Ocean traveling in space at more than 17,000 mph.

U.S. Navy photo #080222-N-4965F-564 by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. Foehl.

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii, 22 February 2008 - The Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) returns to Naval Station Pearl Harbor after firing a single modified Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) on 20 February which successfully destroyed a malfunctioning U.S. reconnaissance satellite approximately 247 kilometers (133 nautical miles) over the Pacific Ocean traveling in space at more than 17,000 mph.

U.S. Navy photo #080222-N-4965F-564 by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. Foehl.

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii, 26 June 2008 - The guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) arrives at Naval Station Pearl Harbor for Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2008. RIMPAC is the world's largest multinational exercise and is scheduled biennially by the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Participants include the United States, Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, the Netherlands, Peru, Republic of Korea, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.

U.S. Navy photo #080626-N-6674H-048 by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Paul D. Honnick.

Pacific Ocean, 29 July 2008 - Navy ships from the United States, Canada and Japan steam in formation during a Rim-of-the-Pacific 2008 group exercise off the coast of Oahu. Ships pictured from front to back: USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), USS Port Royal (CG 73), USS Lake Erie (CG 70), JDS Setogiri (DD 156), USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60), HMCS Regina (FFG 334) and USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6)

U.S. Navy photo #080729-N-7883G-085 by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kyle D. Gahlau.