From: CO, CDR Thomson [mailto:thomsona@ddg53.navy.mil]
Sent: Monday, February 24, 2014 9:46 AM
To: petermaytham@verizon.net; XO, CDR Hall
Cc: Dave Steindl; Jim Housinger
Subject: RE: JPJ Assoc. Newsletter - Winter 2014

Mr. Maytham,

This week the ship starts INSURV.  We've been deep into making the ship ready for that inspection.  We did well at TMI (Type Commander Material Readiness Inspection), and hope to carry that momentum into this week.

Attached are a few photos from a recent missile firing event.  JPJ shot two SM-2 surface-to-air missiles against supersonic targets, scoring a hit with each one.  Those two test events were the first two flight tests for the Navy's newest AEGIS Baseline!  We will continue with flight testing through the spring as we conduct CSSQT for the ship, final test and evaluation for the new SM-6 missile and Developmental and Operational Testing on Baseline 9*.  Should be a very busy spring!

Very respectfully,

Drew

CDR Drew Thomson, USN
Commanding Officer
USS JOHN PAUL JONES (DDG 53)
FPO AP 96669-1271
(w) 619-556-4391
Email: andrew.thomson@ddg53.navy.mil

Editor's Note: Baseline 9 refers to Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) capabilities, which combines air warfare and simultaneous ballistic missile defense (e.g., to counter the Chinese ballistic-missile threat). USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) is scheduled for BL 9C fielding, which provides Flight I and II destroyers (DDG 51 to DDG 71 and DDG 72 to DDG 78, respectively) with Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) capabilities, which combines air warfare and simultaneous ballistic missile defense.