"Train the Way You Fight"

Hmm...

In an unprecedented move, the Navy recently tested the communications network supporting its Aegis ballistic missile defense system across the Middle East. The test comes as top military commanders are expressing a hardened stance against Iran’s intransigence.

The upgraded Aegis systems aboard Navy destroyers and cruisers can track ballistic missiles and intercept them with ship-launched SM-3 missiles.

These are the details and context.

The BMD exercise, which took place from June 28 through July 2, involved the destroyer Benfold operating in the Persian Gulf and the destroyer Russell operating in the eastern Mediterranean.

According to 6th Fleet in Naples, Italy, the exercise has been “long scheduled,” with planning initiated last year.

In this situation the Benfold is the early detection system and the Russell helps track for terminal intercept, which in this scenario probably wouldn't be from a SM-3 rather from a Patriot missile, likely in Israel.

Very interesting article, worth reading in full. For more background on how the Navy does Ballistic missile defense, our previous discussions are here, and SJS has some excellent articles here.