USS Princeton was launched on October 2, 1987 and commissioned on February 11, 1989. She was the Navy's very first cruiser built with the AN/SPY-1B radar system, which offered a substantial improvement into the detection capabilities associated with AEGIS Weapons System. This radar system incorporates significant advances over previous AN/SPY-1A radars, particularly in its resistance to enemy Electronic Countermeasures (ECM). Utilizing the SPY-1B radar and ship's MK 99 Fire Control System, the ship can guide its Standard Missile to intercept aggressive aircraft and missiles at extensive rang.
