A U.S. warship has deployed from Virginia to the Mediterranean Sea that is capable of shooting down ballistic missiles as the U.S. tries to protect Europe from a potential Iranian nuclear threat.
The USS Monterey departed from its home port in Norfolk, Va. on Monday.
It is the first deployment under a U.S. plan to put land- and sea-based radars and interceptors in several European locations over the next decade. Capt. Jim Kilby, the Monterey's commanding
officer, says future ship deployments under the plan will rely on what the Monterey learns over the next six months.
Later this year, the U.S. plans to add land-based radars in southern Europe.
The goal is to protect NATO nations against medium-range missile attacks. NATO endorsed the plan during a summit in Lisbon last fall.
