Updated 26 August 2019
HMAS Hobart has become the first Hobart-class Guided Missile Destroyer to fire a missile in Australian waters.
Hobart fired an SM-2 Standard Missile, successfully hitting an unmanned target during trials off the coast of NSW.
“HMAS Hobart is the most sophisticated and lethal warship ever operated by the RAN, and this missile firing is a demonstration of how she can fight and win at sea,” Minister for Defence Senator Linda Reynolds said.
Hobart’s Commanding Officer, Commander Ryan Gaskin said the successful firing was a significant step in progressing Navy’s high-end warfighting capability.
“The missile firing was an opportunity to test recent upgrades to the ship’s Aegis combat system and prepare the ship’s company for their upcoming deployment,” Commander Gaskin said. “Our advanced sensors provide a real-time picture of the tactical situation, which when combined with our weapons systems gives us a formidable defence capability.”
HMAS Hobart carries a range of weapons systems, including a Mk41 Vertical Launch System containing SM-2 Standard Missiles and Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles, a Mk 45 5-inch main gun, Phalanx Close-In Weapons System, two 25mm Typhoons guns, and MU90 and Mk54 light-weight torpedoes for subsurface defence.
HMAS Hobart is based at Garden Island in Sydney and will deploy for the first time next month as the lead ship in a task group deployment.
Update:
Air Affairs Australia (AAA) and Air Target Services (ATS) were also involved in the successful missile firing.
AAA provided a Phoenix Jet Unmanned Aerial Target that was successfully launched and flown towards HMAS Hobart in order to emulate a realistic airborne threat. During an attack profile that was flown, HMAS Hobart responded with a missile launch that successfully tracked and engaged the Phoenix Jet UAT.
The Air Affairs Australia Phoenix Jet is a Remotely Piloted Aircraft that operates as an Unmanned Aerial Target (UAT) in support of the ADF's weapons tracking and firing programs.
The Australian-designed Phoenix Jet is a fixed wing, small to medium size jet powered UAT capable of high performance flight and manufactured exclusively in Australia by Air Affairs.
