On October 24, the guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) successfully conducted a live-fire missile exercise using the updated Aegis Baseline 9 weapons system. During the missile exercise, USS Mobile Bay fired two Standard Missile-2s and one Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) at airborne training targets. Mass Communication SPC2 Lenny LaCrosse explains the significance of this test: “Mobile Bay is the first guided-missile cruiser to upgrade from Baseline 8 to the Baseline 9 system without having to completely install all new equipment; increasing accuracy, range and weapons capabilities aboard the ship. This upgrade demonstrated that ships don’t need excessive yard periods and complete system overhauls to expand their capabilities thanks to open architecture environments and commercial off-the-shelf designs.”