English: The U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD-2) launches one of the ship’s RIM-7 Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missiles during a training exercise. The U.S. Navy uses the Sea Sparrow version aboard ships as a surface-to-air anti-missile defense weapon. The Sea Sparrow has all-weather, all-altitude operational capability and can attack high-performance aircraft and missiles from any direction. During the exercise, the missile intercepted a remote controlled, GPS-guided test drone. Essex and the guided missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) participated in the missile firing exercise conducted to test the ships defensive capability.