As a result of the outlays made to acquire and operate scores of Aegis ships over the past three decades, the U.S. now has in place much of the infrastructure necessary to begin providing global antimissile defenses.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: An Effective Antimissile Strategy

Aegis began as a sea-based defense against hostile aircraft, but over three decades has evolved to become the most versatile missile-defense system in the world, due in no small part to the fact that destroyers and cruisers hosting the system can get wherever they need to be quickly.

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The Aegis program with the Navy, make it Upper Tier, can do it in three or four years.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Steve Forbes at the inauguration of the Casey Institute