Sailors aboard aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) tested one of its weapon systems, May 6, by launching multiple RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) against multiple airborne and low altitude targets.

The RAM is a lightweight, quick-reaction, fire-and-forget missile designed to destroy anti-ship missiles and asymmetric air and surface threats.

"The RAM shoot was outstanding," said Cmdr. Matt Mowad, Reagan's combat direction center officer. "For a ship to come out of an eight-month maintenance availability and have only been out to sea for a short amount of time to roll into a complex weapons shoot and succeed is almost unheard of. We're extremely happy with the performance of the team and the weapons system."

Mowad said these tests are very important to the ship and its mission.

"We have to prove our capability," said Mowad. "The reason we don't have to go to war sometimes is because other countries know what we're capable of doing. This is just more proof that our weapons systems work proficiently, our guys are trained and our equipment is maintained."

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Scott Abplanalp, tactical support center division officer and Reagan's senior tactical action officer, said this was a very complex event that took a lot of coordination and training.

"All of the training that led up to this event was extremely effective," said Abplanalp. "It helped everyone get on the same page and execute the entire evolution flawlessly."

Abplanalp said the targets, which are remote controlled aircraft that are flown toward the ship, flew in the same flight profile and speed as some of the threats Reagan could encounter around the world. The ship's systems and operators performed up to Team Reagan's high standards, flawlessly.

"It's phenomenal," said Mowad. "The system works as advertised. I was really impressed with its capabilities."

Mowad and Abplanalp both said there were tremendous hurdles to overcome and the teamwork across departments led to mission success.

"A special thanks to combat systems department for [its] tireless efforts in getting the ship's weapon systems and sensors ready for this live-fire event," said Abplanalp. "Without these dedicated professionals, we have no systems to operate; they really pulled through in a pinch!"

For more from USS Ronald Reagan, visit www.reagan.navy.mil.

For more news from USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), visit www.navy.mil/.