U.S. Navy destroyers intercept simulated ballistic missile during NATO exercise Formidable Shield 2025

Two U.S. Navy DDGs Successfully Engage SRBM and MRBM during exercise Formidable Shield 2025

ATLANTIC OCEAN – (May 20, 2025) Ensign Kayla Staknis, assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), observes the launch of a Standard Missile 3 to intercept a ballistic missile during At-Sea Demonstration (ASD) / Formidable Shield (FS) 2025. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jonathan Nye)From U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs, May 22, 2025 NAPLES, Italy – U.S. 6th Fleet Arleigh Burke-cl…

U.S. Navy destroyers intercept simulated ballistic missile during NATO exercise Formidable Shield 2025

On 15 May 2025, USS Thomas Hudner successfully intercepted a short-range ballistic missile (IAMD-T) target using an SM-6 missile. Five days later, on 20 May 2025, both Thomas Hudner and Bulkeley jointly engaged a medium-range ballistic missile target (ARAV-B) and a simulated target (EDTT) with an SM-3 missile. The successful intercepts demonstrated the effectiveness and combat readiness of U.S. Navy systems, reinforcing the ability to operate in…