The Royal Australian Navy has fired a Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) during a military exercise near Hawaii, in a move the federal government said added to the fleet’s “long-range strike capability”, the ABC reports.
The government said the firing took place this month during an exercise conducted by destroyer HMAS Sydney near the US state in the Pacific Ocean.
Last month, the navy successfully tested its new Naval Strike Missile, which is expected to replace the aging Harpoon weapon system.
In a statement, the government said the US-made SM-6 was being added to the navy’s arsenal at a time of “challenging strategic circumstances”.
“SM-6 enhances our fleet’s lethality, providing the capability to strike aerial targets at extended ranges,” navy chief, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, said in a video statement.
“HMAS Sydney’s first-of-class firings of both Naval Strike Missile and Standard Missile 6 in less than a month [are] a clear demonstration of navy’s intent to deliver on our commitment to accelerate our ability to support defence’s strategy of denial.”
The SM-6, acquired from the US, will be progressively deployed across the navy’s Hobart class destroyers and future surface warships, including the Hunter Class frigates to be built in South Australia’s Osborne shipyard.
The Commonwealth government said SM-6 would add to Australia’s air and missile defence capabilities, which include three guided missile destroyers currently in service.
“This is another example of the acceleration in acquisitions of critical capabilities for the navy that enhances lethality within the surface combatant fleet and the capacity for the ADF to safeguard Australians and their interests,” Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said.
“The ability to deter an adversary from extended ranges and to deter attempts to project power against Australia is a core part of the National Defence Strategy.”
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