Lockheed Martin's Aegis Combat System 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).

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.

“Every day our customers face a growing number of threats from our adversaries, which requires a continuous evolution in capabilities,” said Jim Sheridan, Director of U.S. Navy Aegis Programs for Lockheed Martin’s Mission Systems and Training business.

“Baseline 9 as part of Aegis modernization ensures we stay one step ahead of each of those complex and sophisticated threats at a faster pace and with more technological advancements than ever before,” he added.

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 modernization. USS Normandy (CG 60), the next ship to receive upgrades, is nearing the end of the industrial phase of modernization and USS Princeton (CG 59) and USS Cape St. George (CG 71) are next in line to enter their availability periods.