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The Aegis Combat System is a missile guidance system developed by the US Navy, considered one of the most advanced weapon systems on Earth. It seamlessly integrates radar, visual displays, missile control centers, and a powerful computer system, capable of controlling missile launches of a single ship or an entire fleet. It can handle multiple threats simultaneously and is used by several American allies. The system reflects the changing face of warfare in the twentieth century and has extended into the civilian world.
The Aegis Combat System is a missile guidance system developed by the US Navy. It is in active use among several American allies and, in the words of the Navy, is a “total weapons system from detection to kill.” Development of the system began as early as the 1960s, and by the 1980s Aegis-class vessels were sailing with early versions of the system on board. It is widely considered to be one of the most advanced weapon systems on Earth.
The original Aegis was the shield of Zeus in Greek mythology. The word has come into usage in English to refer to protection or shielding with potentially godlike abilities. In some myths, the Aegis is actually a fire-breathing monster, rather than a passive shield. This version of the myth is reflected in the Navy’s choice of name.
Several things distinguish Aegis from other missile guidance systems. The first is the level of integration displayed by Aegis. The system seamlessly integrates radar, visual displays, missile control centers and a powerful computer system. These systems all work together extremely quickly, returning valuable minute-by-minute data to Aegis operators. As soon as a threat is identified, the system tracks it until the threat is neutralized or repelled.
The technology behind Aegis is also extremely powerful. It is capable of controlling the missile launches of a single ship, or it can be used to coordinate an entire fleet of ships. This capability makes the Aegis combat system, and by extension the Navy, much more flexible. Aegis is also able to handle multiple threats simultaneously, as well as threats from different environments, such as the air, surface or underground.
Like other weapon systems, the Aegis combat system reflects the changing face of warfare in the twentieth century. The cutting-edge technology that forms the backbone of Aegis has also extended into the civilian world, as is often the case with military technology. However, most civilian systems that compare to Aegis contain only a fraction of the system’s computing and tracking power.
The capabilities of the Aegis combat system are obviously limited. The system can usually only control about 100 individual weapons, but it can potentially track up to 900 threats at a range of 100 nautical miles. Since these numbers exceed those found in most combat situations, most people find the Aegis combat system fully satisfactory, especially when augmented by a network of ships and operators.
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