Air Defense
Aegis Combat System
The Aegis Combat System is a US Navy ship combat system built around the AN/SPY-1 phased-array radar, now produced by Lockheed Martin, with the first ship commissioned in 1983. It can track more than 100 targets and is installed on well over 100 ships worldwide.
United States|Lockheed MartinOverview
Aegis grew from the Advanced Surface Missile System of the 1960s, originally developed by RCA, and the first ship, USS Ticonderoga (CG-47), was commissioned on 22 January 1983. It links the AN/SPY-1 radar with a command-and-decision computer to track more than 100 targets and guide SM-2, SM-6, ESSM and, for ballistic missile defence, SM-3 missiles. The Mk 41 vertical launch system also carries Tomahawk and ASROC. Arleigh Burke Flight III ships use the AN/SPY-6(V)1 radar with Baseline 10.
Aegis equips the 27 Ticonderoga cruisers (most now retired) and 70 or more Arleigh Burke destroyers, as well as ships from Japan, South Korea, Spain, Norway and Australia. Aegis Ashore sites operate at Deveselu in Romania (2016) and Redzikowo in Poland (2024). USS Lake Erie shot down the USA-193 satellite in 2008, and Aegis ships intercepted Iranian missiles in 2024. A Flight III destroyer costs about 2 to 2.5 billion dollars. The UK uses Sea Viper, not Aegis.
Key Specifications
Variants
The Ticonderoga class (CG-47) carries the original Aegis cruiser installation, beginning with the 1983 USS Ticonderoga.
The Arleigh Burke class (DDG-51) is the destroyer line, with Flight III ships using the AN/SPY-6(V)1 radar.
Aegis Ashore is the land-based ballistic missile defence version, operating in Romania and Poland.
Operators
United States
Japan
South Korea
Spain
Norway
AustraliaFrequently Asked Questions
What does Aegis stand for?
Aegis is not an acronym; the name comes from the mythological shield of Zeus. The US Navy’s Aegis Combat System was first fielded on USS Ticonderoga in 1983.
How many Aegis ships are there?
Well over 100 ships worldwide carry the Aegis Combat System. They include more than 70 US Arleigh Burke destroyers and ships from Japan, South Korea, Spain, Norway and Australia.
Which countries use Aegis?
The Aegis Combat System is used by the US, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Norway and Australia. Canada’s River-class destroyers will use an Aegis-derived CMS 330, and the UK uses Sea Viper, not Aegis.
Can Aegis shoot down hypersonic missiles?
Aegis can engage ballistic missiles with the SM-3, but defence against hypersonic missiles remains an area of development. Public claims about Aegis intercepting hypersonic weapons should be treated cautiously.
Does Türkiye have the Aegis system?
No, Türkiye does not operate Aegis. TCG Istanbul and MILGEM ships use a domestic combat system and the Mk 41 VLS with national Hisar missiles.
Aegis vs S-400: how do they compare?
Aegis is a ship-based combat system, while the S-400 is a land-based air defence system. Aegis tracks more than 100 targets and can engage ballistic missiles with SM-3 and SM-6 missiles.
