US Navy successfully tests missile interceptors to be installed in Romania

The US Navy has successfully tested a new upgrade of the Aegis missile defense system, simultaneously destroying two cruise and one ballistic missile off the coast of Hawaii, according to the Missile Defense Agency MDA within the US Department of Defense. Navy destroyer USS John Paul Jones intercepted the ballistic missile with an SM-3 guided missile, launched simultaneously with two SM-2 missiles that intercepted cruise missiles at low altitude, reports local Mediafax. The upgrade is to be installed on US Navy Aegis destroyers, as well as on the Aegis Ashore system which will become operational in Romania next year, within the U.S. military base in Deveselu. The US Navy officially took over the command of the Deveselu military base in South – Western Romania through a ceremony organized in mid-October. You may also want to read: Russians promise reply to new U.S. military base in Romania. NATO official: Missile defense elements in Romania are no threat to Russia. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com