The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) ran a successful test of its Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) system during an at-sea missile exercise (MISSLEX), June 14.
The exercise simulated a possible real-life event, where the ship shot down a rapidly approaching drone.
The work center supervisor in charge of the fired missile, Fire Controlman 2nd Class Tyler J. Brozenick, said that although the exercise is over quickly, there’s at least a full month’s preparation prior to it. Live RAM tests are rarely done. This was, however, the second conducted in the last five years onboard the Kearsarge.
The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are underway participating in ARG/MEUEX, a scenario-based amphibious integration exercise, in preparation for a future deployment. Kearsarge is scheduled to deploy fall 2015.
Image: US Navy