The US Navy has taken delivery of its 500th advanced ship-defense missile, marking a major achievement for an international development program. Compared to earlier models, the weapon incorporates improved radar guidance, maneuvering ability, and targeting flexibility, while maintaining compatibility with existing launchers. The program represents NATO’s longest-running cooperative weapons initiative, with members jointly responsible for development and sustainment. Initially fielded at the start of the century, the missile’s latest version became operational in 2020 and is now deployed across both American and allied fleets, reinforcing collective naval defense capabilities.
