Aegis Intercept Flight Test

384824 01: The U.S. Navy Aegis cruiser, USS Lake Erie (CG 70), conducted the Aegis Intercept Flight Test Round (FTR-1A) mission at the Pacific Missile range headquartered in the mid-Pacific on the island of Kauai, Hi, January 25, 2001. The Lake Erie launched a Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) demonstrating third stage airframe stability and control through nominal kinetic warhead fourth stage separation. The SM-3 is the U.S. Navy's new exo-atmospheric missile developed to counter Theater Ballistic Missile threats outside the atmosphere. (Photo by U.S. Navy/Newsmakers)