RAN ships recently participated for the first time in US 3rd Fleet Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) exercise Pacific Dragon off Hawai’i.
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) wrapped up its inaugural participation in Exercise Pacific Dragon 2022 on August 15th. Pacific Dragon is a biennial US 3rd Fleet-led Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) exercise, which has previously involved Japan, South Korea and the United States. Including Australia, this year’s iteration also included fellow newcomer, Canada.
Pacific Dragon 2022 took place off Hawai’i and was supported by Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands (PMRF) and the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA).
HMA ships Supply (A 195) and Sydney (DDG 42) took part in Pacific Dragon 2022, alongside fellow Aegis-equipped destroyers, JS Haguro (DDG 180), ROKS Sejong the Great (DDG 991), USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) and USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110). Canadian frigate HMCS Vancouver (FFH 331) also took part in the drills.
Previous iterations of Pacific Dragon, such as Pacific Dragon 2016, have focused on tracking simulated ballistic targets and coordinating communications and command and control procedures. Pacific Dragon 2022 was the first iteration of the exercise that included a live-fire intercept of a short-range ballistic missile. During the exercise, USS Fitzgerald launched a single Standard Missile 3 Block 1A (SM-3) against an unspecified ballistic target, successfully bringing it down over the Pacific Ocean.
Fitzgerald was joined in firing live munitions by HMAS Sydney, which launched a single, short-range RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) against a target drone during the drills.
Unlike the United States Navy (USN), Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN), and Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) ships that took part in Pacific Dragon, the RAN does not currently field a BMD capability aboard any of its warships.
The planned acquisition of Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) and Aegis Baseline 9 will change that.
Unlike SM-3, which is utilised by the USN, ROKN and JMSDF, SM-6 only provides a secondary terminal-stage BMD capability. SM-3, meanwhile, targets ballistic missiles mid-flight and destroys them with a non-explosive interceptor.
Aegis Baseline 9 is critical in allowing SM-6 to take on a secondary BMD role. Previous interactions of Aegis, such as Baseline 7.1 which currently equips the three Hobart class destroyers, are unable to support SM-6 in a BMD role.
Last year, Lockheed Martin Australia was awarded a contract to upgrade all three Hobart class Guided Missile Destroyers (DDG) with Aegis Baseline 9. The RAN’s future Hunter class frigates are also expected to be outfitted with the capability, as well as SM-6 missiles.
Asked how participation in Pacific Dragon helps prepare the RAN for the future acquisition of SM-6 missiles, a Defence Spokesperson told ADM:
“[During Pacific Dragon] HMAS Sydney successfully tracked targets with its Aegis Combat System, which incorporates the state-of-the-art phased array AN/SPY 1D(V) radar, and successfully launched an Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) to intercept an airborne target drone. The Hobart Class Destroyer is one of the most capable warships in the region with a superior air defence capability that will continue to be upgraded with next generation air and missile defence system throughout its life, including the SM6 missile system.”
