Australia’s destroyer fires naval strike missile for the first time (Video)

HMAS Sydney, a Royal Australian Navy’s Hobart-class destroyer, has conducted a successful firing of the naval strike missile for the first time.

As informed, the firing took place during a long-planned, live-fire sinking exercise off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii as a part of Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024. 

It happened during a simulated activity that tested the sinking of Ex-USS Tarawa LHA1.

HMAS Sydney – built at Osborne in South Australia – is a guided missile destroyer that can provide air defence and maritime protection for accompanying ships, land forces and infrastructure in coastal areas.

”This collaboration between Defence and industry partner Kongsberg Defence Australia, along with local Australian companies such as Marand, Aerobond, Australian Precision Technologies, Nupress Group, Axiom Precision Manufacturing and Stahl Metall, demonstrates the Australian Government’s commitment to working with defence industry to accelerate enhanced lethality capability integration,” Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy, said.

“The National Defence Strategy outlined a strategy of denial as the cornerstone of Defence planning to prevent any potential adversary from succeeding in coercing Australia through force, while supporting regional security and prosperity.“

“Australia’s strategic environment is changing rapidly, the introduction of Naval Strike Missile allows our Navy’s surface ships to conduct long range maritime strike and delivers on our promise to increase the capability and lethality of our Navy.”

Twenty-nine nations, 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, more than 150 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC in and around the Hawaiian Islands, from June 27 to August 1, 2024.

RIMPAC 2024 is the 29th exercise in the series that began in 1971.