The guided-missile destroyers Hopper and O’Kane left Pearl Harbor today for separate deployments to the Middle East and the western Pacific.

The Hopper is deploying in support of ballistic missile defense exercises to the Middle East, the Navy said.
Multiple U.S. warships equipped with Aegis ballistic missile defense capabilities are expected to participate in mid-October with Israel in the biennial Juniper Cobra exercise.
The upcoming exercise, being described as the largest joint exercise ever held by the countries, comes as the U.S examines whether to pursue a missile defense system in Europe or elsewhere.
The Hopper’s crew of about 28 officers and 241 enlisted sailors will conduct operations with U.S. carrier strike groups and coalition partners deployed to the Middle East region, the Navy said without confirming participation in Juniper Cobra.
The exercise is expected to involve the sea-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System, the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system and Israel's Arrow 2 missile technology.
Cmdr. Timothy J. Kott, Hopper’s commanding officer, said he also expects to participate in the wider mission areas of maritime interdiction looking for shipping contraband, as well as theater security operations.
“The Middle East is a complex area of operations, and our crew is trained and ready to participate in a wide variety of operations and exercises. They have worked hard in preparing for this deployment over the past four months and are ready for tasking,” Kott said.
Cmdr. Timothy Steadman, O'Kane's commanding officer, will oversee training while operating in the western Pacific, the Navy said. The Pearl Harbor destroyer will operate with the USS George Washington carrier strike group.
The O’Kane also will participate in an exercise with Japan testing anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and ballistic missile defense working relationships with the Japanese.
Hopper and O’Kane are two of 18 U.S. ships — three cruisers and 15 destroyers — fitted with the full Aegis ballistic missile defense capability in the Navy, allowing them to detect, track and engage enemy ballistic missiles.