With the emergence of the Aircraft Carrier in the middle of the 20th century as the preeminent capital ship in America's fleet, arose a need to protect these important assets. With most of their available space given over to flight operations, these craft required support ships to guard against air, missile, subsurface and surface threats. The vanguard of this defensive screen emerged in the 1960s and 1970s as a new type of ship, the guided missile cruiser.

This new type of vessel was developed chiefly to combat air and missile attacks (and like most platforms of the era, and focused on threats from the Soviet Union and its allies.) In the 1980s, this concept reached new heights with the introduction and deployment of the Ticonderoga Class Cruiser. These vessels revolutionized the ideas of battle-space management and formed the core of the defense screen for Carrier Battlegroups around the world.

Using brand new sensors and tracking systems, combined with an exceptionally versatile weapons system (the Vertical Launch System) to deploy a variety of air defense, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare systems, the Ticonderoga ensured that the invaluable Carriers of the US Navy could steam into harm's way with a significantly improved chance of survival.

M3 Technology has participated as an active supplier to support the continued improvement of the electronics systems of these and other naval platforms. In particular, M3 Technology has assisted in the development and deployment of the AN-SQQ-89A(V)15 Undersea Warfare System, which now forms the core of the US Navy's anti-submarine capability. Developed for use and adaptability on multiple platforms, this robust sensor suite ensures that the US Navy can compete with and defeat emerging undersea threats which would otherwise prevent operational access to critical areas around the globe.

The work performed on the Ticonderoga Class Cruisers has laid the groundwork for the design and development of numerous follow-on platforms and paved the way for the US Navy to enter the 21st Century as the premier naval fighting force the world has ever seen. With capabilities ranging from force projection, ballistic missile defense to humanitarian aid missions, M3 Technology is a proud supplier of the fleet, and an avid support of the sailors, soldiers and marines deployed on ships and bases patrolling all the world's oceans.