Missile flight test. U.S. Navy destroyer USS Decatur (DDG-73) launching an SM-3 standard missile from its Aegis combat system. This missile went on to intercept and destroy an 'enemy' ballistic missile that was launched simultaneously for the test. This was the first time that a U.S. destroyer ship had carried out this type of test. USS Decatur is one of 18 U.S. Navy ships that will be identically equipped with this defence system by 2009. Photographed at Barking Sands Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawai'i, USA, on 22nd June 2007.