National

Green tick for Navy's first strike test of new missile

By AAP Newswire

Jul 22, 2024

HMAS Sydney firing missile — The HMAS Sydney has fired a new missile during a training drill off the Hawaiian coast. -PR Handout Image

An enhanced strike missile has been successfully fired for the first time from an Australian destroyer as the navy boosts its firepower.

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The naval strike missile is the replacement for the ageing Harpoon weapon system on Australian destroyers.

The HMAS Sydney successfully fired the new missile during the RIMPAC training drill hosted by the United States off the coast of Hawaii.

A decommissioned US ship has been sunk by the HMAS Sydney as part of a drill. (HANDOUT/DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE)

The test sank the decommissioned USS Tarawa as part of a simulation drill.

Fitting the new missile onto the guided destroyer ship that can provider air defence and maritime protection of accompanying vessels and land forces has been branded a major milestone.

Navy chief Vice Admiral Mark Hammond described it as "a significant increase in the lethality of our surface fleet" by being able to strike potential adversaries at greater range.

The firing highlighted defence's push to accelerate the delivery of new weapons and technology to make its fleet more deadly, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press