The Lake Erie, commissioned in 1993, holds a unique distinction in naval history: on February 20, 2008, she successfully shot down a malfunctioning U.S. spy satellite using a Standard Missile-3—demonstrating the AEGIS system's capability as a ballistic missile defense platform before the world's eyes. She has served in the Pacific Fleet throughout her career, defending carrier strike groups and proving the Ticonderoga class as the most capable surface combatant afloat.