Aegis combat system

The Aegis combat system, named for the mythological aegis shield, is a United States Navy weapons system. The name is sometimes spelt "AEGIS", reportedly an acronym meaning "Airborne Early warning Ground environment Interface Segment". However this seems to be a "backronym" or fake etymology, arising from the EGIS "Erieye Ground Interface Segment", software written for the Erieye long range Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system, flown on a variety of aircraft platforms, most notably the Brazilian Embraer EMB-145 Erieye. The main manufacturer of Aegis, Lockheed Martin, makes no mention of a putative acronym http://www.lockheedmartin.com/wms/findPage.do?dsp=fec&ci=11357&rsbci=0&fti=126&ti=0&sc=400.

Related Topics:
Mythological - Aegis - United States Navy - Weapon - Acronym - Backronym - Fake etymology - Erieye - Embraer EMB-145 - Lockheed Martin

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By the late sixties, it was recognized that reaction time, firepower, and operational availability in all environments did not match the anti-ship missile threat. As a result, an operational requirement for an Advanced Surface Missile System (ASMS) was promulgated and a comprehensive engineering development program was initiated to meet that requirement. ASMS was re-named Aegis, after the mythological shield of Zeus, in December of 1969.

Related Topics:
Advanced Surface Missile System - Mythological shield of Zeus - 1969

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The heart of the system is an advanced, automatic detect and track, multi-function three dimensional phased array radar, the AN/SPY-1, which is now up to the "Delta" version AN/SPY-1D. Known as "the Shield of the Fleet", this high-powered (four megawatt) radar is able to perform search, track and missile guidance functions simultaneously with a track capacity of over 200 targets at more than 200 miles. The first Engineering Development Model (EDM-1) was installed in the test ship, USS Norton Sound in 1973.

Related Topics:
Phased array - Radar - AN/SPY-1 - Mega - Watt - Missile - USS ''Norton Sound'' - 1973

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The computer-based command and decision element is the core of the Aegis combat system. This interface makes the Aegis combat system capable of simultaneous operation against a multi-mission threat: anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare. The Aegis system is being enhanced to act in a Theater Missile Defense role, to counter short- and medium-range ballistic missiles of the variety typically employed by rogue states; see Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System.

Related Topics:
Computer - Theater Missile Defense - Ballistic missile - Rogue state - Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System

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The Navy built the first Aegis equipped cruisers using the hull and machinery designs of Spruance-class destroyers. The first cruiser of this class was Ticonderoga. The commissioning of Bunker Hill opened a new era in surface warfare as the first Aegis ship outfitted with the Vertical Launching System (VLS), allowing greater missile selection, firepower and survivability. The improved AN/SPY-1B radar went to sea in Princeton, ushering in another advance in Aegis capabilities. Chosin introduced the AN/UYK-43/44 computers, which provide increased processing capabilities.

Related Topics:
Cruiser - ''Spruance''-class destroyers - ''Ticonderoga'' - ''Bunker Hill'' - Vertical Launching System - ''Princeton'' - ''Chosin''

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In 1980, a smaller ship was designed using an improved sea-keeping hull form, reduced infrared and radar cross-section and upgrades to the Aegis Combat System. The first ship of the DDG-51 class, Arleigh Burke, was commissioned on the Fourth of July, 1991. The DDG-51 class was named after a living person, the legendary Admiral Arleigh Burke, the most famous American destroyerman of World War II. Because the Aegis system dominates the ship architecture, ships equipped with it are sometimes mistakenly called Aegis class ships.

Related Topics:
1980 - Infrared - DDG-51 class - ''Arleigh Burke'' - The Fourth of July - 1991 - Arleigh Burke - World War II

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DDG-51s were constructed in flights, allowing technological advances during construction. Flight II, introduced in FY 1992, incorporates improvements to the SPY radar and the Standard missile, active electronic countermeasures and communications. Flight IIA, introduced in FY 1994, added a helicopter hangar with one anti-submarine helicopter and one armed attack helicopter. The Aegis program has also projected reducing the cost of each Flight IIA ship by at least $30 million.

Related Topics:
1992 - 1994 - Helicopter

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