Ticonderoga-class cruiser

The Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruisers are large surface warships equipped with the Aegis defense system. First ordered and authorized in 1978, they were intended to provide carrier battle groups with improved air defense capabilities. These warships are provided with increased combat capability, thanks to the Aegis combat system's AN/SPY-1A radar and Mk. 99 fire control system. Ships built after the USS Thomas S. Gates (CG-51) are outfitted with the improved AN/SPY-1B radar and two Mark 41 VLS systems.

The twin Mk. 41 Vertical Launch Systems (VLS) have a total of 122 launch tubes that carry a wide variety of missiles; including the BGM-109 Tomahawk, the Standard Missile family of SAMs, and the ASROC anti-submarine missiles. The VLS enables the ship's missiles to be fully standing at any moment, shortening the ship's reaction time and increasing its rate of fire.

Appearances

 * Ace Combat 2
 * Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies
 * Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War
 * Ace Combat Advance
 * Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War
 * Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception
 * Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation
 * Ace Combat: Joint Assault
 * Ace Combat: Assault Horizon

Operators

 * Emmerian Navy
 * Erusian Navy
 * Estovakian Navy
 * General Resource Defense Force
 * Golden Axe Plan Private Army Forces
 * Independent State Allied Forces
 * International Union Peacekeeping Forces
 * Leasath Navy
 * Osean Maritime Defense Force
 * Unified Command
 * United States Navy
 * Valahia

Notable Vessels

 * Cruiser Raven of the Erusian 'Invincible' Aegir Fleet (AC04)
 * Cruiser Teetime of the Independent State Allied Forces (AC04)
 * Cruiser Excalibur of the Osean Maritime Defense Force 3rd Fleet (AC5)
 * Cruiser Halcyon of the Osean Maritime Defense Force (AC5)
 * Cruiser Ramasis of the General Resource Defense Force (ACA)
 * Cruiser Eques of the Estovakian Navy (AC6)

Armament(s)
2 x 127mm Mk. 45 multipurpose naval guns 2 x 20mm Mk. 15 Phalanx CIWS guns 2 x twin-arm Mk. 26 missile launcher + 44 SM-2 surface-to-air missiles. Following the CG-51, these were replaced with 2 x 61-cell Mk. 41 VLS, each armed with a mix of ASROC ASW missile, Tomahawk cruise missile, and the SM-2 and ESSM SAMs.