Breaking News: U.S. Navy and Space Command integrate destroyer ship in space domain defense.

According to information published by the U.S. Space Command on July 8, 2025, the U.S. National Space Defense Center (NSDC), in coordination with the U.S. Navy, successfully conducted the third At-Sea Demonstration (ASD-3) between April 6 and 9, 2025. The exercise featured the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney and marked a significant leap in joint naval-space operations, particularly in the fields of Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD).
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The U.S. Navy's Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Pinckney conducts operations during At-Sea Demonstration 3 in April 2025, showcasing integrated ballistic missile defense and space domain awareness capabilities in direct coordination with U.S. Space Command. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)

The USS Pinckney (DDG 91) is a Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer of the U.S. Navy commissioned in 2004 and currently homeported with the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Named in honor of Command Master Chief Petty Officer William Pinckney, a Navy Cross recipient for heroic actions during World War II, the ship is designed for multi-role operations including anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine, and ballistic missile defense missions. Equipped with the Aegis Combat System, the USS Pinckney features the AN/SPY-1D(V) phased array radar, Mk 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS), and Standard Missile interceptors, giving it the capability to detect, track, and neutralize airborne and ballistic threats over vast operational ranges. It is among the most advanced surface combatants in the U.S. Navy and serves as a frontline asset in both blue-water and littoral combat zones.

During the ASD-3 (third At-Sea Demonstration)  operation, the USS Pinckney demonstrated the capabilities of its Aegis Combat System to detect, track, and report space-based objects, using real-time data provided by the broader space domain enterprise. This exercise showcased an unprecedented level of integration, as it was the first time that NSDC maintained direct, uninterrupted communication with a naval surface vessel throughout such a demonstration. This live link between maritime and space assets reflects a new operational standard for joint force synchronization across domains.

The Aegis Combat System is a state-of-the-art integrated naval weapons platform that combines powerful radar systems, advanced computers, and sophisticated missile technology to provide simultaneous tracking and engagement of multiple air and missile threats. At the core of the system is the AN/SPY-1 radar, a phased-array sensor capable of detecting and tracking hundreds of targets in real time. The system is networked with Standard Missile interceptors, including SM-2, SM-3, and SM-6 variants, enabling the ship to conduct layered defense against aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missile threats. Aegis is the centerpiece of the Navy’s Ballistic Missile Defense capability and is now being adapted to contribute to space domain awareness, making it a key component in multi-domain deterrence operations.

According to U.S. Navy Lt. Tavis McDonald, deputy operations chief at the U.S. NSDC (National Space Defense Center), the exercise emphasized the necessity of persistent and accurate cross-domain communication. “This demonstration highlights the critical importance of seamless communication between our space and maritime forces,” McDonald stated. “We continue to sharpen our ability to identify and respond to threats across domains.”

ASD-3 featured rigorous stress-testing scenarios developed to push the limits of SDA (Space Domain Awareness) and BMD (Ballistic Missile Defense) systems, ensuring their robustness under real-world operational pressure. The joint NSDC-Navy crews ran coordinated simulations to validate detection algorithms, data transmission reliability, and rapid response protocols. These training and validation exercises are aligned with DoD efforts to prepare maritime assets for space-integrated warfare and to project defensive power beyond the traditional sea-air-land paradigm.

This successful demonstration also supports the U.S. military’s broader strategy to operationalize space as a contested domain. With peer adversaries continuing to develop counterspace capabilities and dual-use satellites, the ability to maintain persistent space situational awareness from naval platforms offers a tactical edge and improved survivability for both ground and orbital assets.

ASD-3 stands as a milestone in U.S. efforts to operationalize the fusion of naval firepower and space-based intelligence. It underscores a growing emphasis on dynamic, resilient architectures that combine terrestrial and space-based assets into a unified command-and-control framework. As threats evolve beyond geographic boundaries, exercises like ASD-3 will define the future of U.S. military deterrence and multi-domain dominance.