The United States,
in response to advances in missile threats from Iran
and North Korea
in recent years, has become more invested in Navy cruisers and destroyers that
carry a high-tech radar system and dozens of missile interceptors.
As a result, the ballistic missile defence destroyers and
cruisers that carry the high-tech Aegis system are a growing capability that is
in hot demand by military commanders across the Middle East,
Europe and the Pacific.
"They give the capability to the combatant commanders
that allows them to position (the ships) where there's a need, and we feel
they're a pretty good investment," said Admiral Bill Gortney, commander of
US Fleet Forces in Norfolk. Unlike
other missile defence systems, he said the ships are "able to sail to
where the crisis is."
Dr Anthony Cordesman, a national security expert at the
Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said the ships
provide a layered defence that can quickly provide warning and details of a
missile launch in areas of the world where there may be only a limited time to
mount a response. And they present an added complication and deterrent for an
adversary such as North Korea
or Iran that
may be trying to target a nearby US
ally - such as South Korea
or Israel.
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