USS BUNKER HILL, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) successfully completed sea trials Feb. 6 off the coast of San Diego to test and validate its recently installed combat systems.
Bunker Hill's crew successfully tested the ship's new Aegis Weapons System, the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) and SPQ-9B Radar. Successful firing of the Close-in Weapons System (CIWS) Block 1B and 5-inch/.62 caliber gun were also completed.
"These trials were a critical step in an extraordinarily complex modernization program." said Capt. Robin Russell, program manager of surface combatants program office in Naval Sea Systems Command's Surface Warfare Directorate (SEA 21). "Today, the Cruiser Modernization team, the ship's crew and our industry partners all demonstrated their commitment to bringing these advanced capabilities to the fleet."
Bunker Hill is the first guided-missile cruiser to receive a complete set of upgrades as part of the Navy's Cruiser Modernization program. Each of the Navy's 22 Ticonderoga-class cruisers are scheduled for modernization over the next 10 years.
A key feature of the ship's modernization is the installation of Aegis Open Architecture (AOA) to upgrade the Aegis Weapon System. The AOA upgrade provides the capacity for future combat system growth over the life of the class as well as mission expansion, such as ballistic missile defense.
Over the next several years, SEA 21 will manage this structured modernization program to ensure that these ships reach their expected 35-year service life which is vital for the Navy's goal of a 313-ship fleet.
Additional testing will occur over the next several months, and Bunker Hill is projected to rejoin the fleet in early fiscal year 2010.
SEA 21 manages the complete life-cycle support for all non-nuclear surface ships and is the principal interface with the Surface Warfare Enterprise.
The directorate is responsible for the maintenance and modernization of non-nuclear surface ships currently operating in the fleet. Through planned modernization and upgrade programs, SEA 21 will equip today's surface ships with the latest technologies and systems to keep them in the fleet though their service lives.
Additionally, SEA 21 oversees the ship inactivation process, including transfers or sales to friendly foreign navies, inactivation and or disposal.
