The U.S. Navy is moving two guided-missile destroyers, USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) and USS Preble (DDG 88), to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, this summer as a way of boosting Aegis capabilities to Commander of Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific (CNSGMP), the Navy said in a release yesterday.
USS John Paul Jones will swap homeports with USS Lake Erie (CG 70), whereas USS Preble will replace the decommissioned frigate, USS Reuben James (FFG 57).
John Paul Jones, currently the most technologically advanced ship within the Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) program, will be used in that capacity to support the Navy and Missile Defense Agency testing program. Recently, the ship was updated with the latest Aegis BMD capability to engage ballistic missiles with the SM-3 missile.
After the swap, Lake Erie is going to proceed to San Diego for a scheduled, extended docking ship repair availability (EDSRA).
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, January 08, 2014; Image: US NAVY