USS John S. McCain (DDG 56)

USS John S. McCain (DDG 56)

At sea aboard USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) Feb. 6, 2004 – Guided missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) fires a RIM-66 standard surface-to-air missile during a training exercise. The Navy uses the Sea Sparrow version aboard ships as a surface-to-air anti-missile defense weapon. The versatile Sparrow has all-weather, all-altitude operational capability and can attack high-performance aircraft and missiles from any direction. During the exercise, the missile intercepted a remote controlled, GPS-guided test drone. McCain and the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) participated in the missile firing exercise conducted to test the ships defensive capability. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Marvin E. Thompson Jr.