HMAS Hobart strikes in Australian-first missile firing

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 against an unmanned target during trials off the coast of New South Wales, achieving excellent results.

Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said the successful missile firing demonstrates the capabilities of the Royal Australian Navy’s most advanced warships.

“HMAS Hobart is the most sophisticated and lethal warship ever operated by the Royal Australian Navy, and this missile firing is a demonstration of how she can fight and win at sea,” Minister Reynolds said.

“The Australian Government is modernising our Navy into a state-of-the-art maritime power through an additional $90 billion commitment.” 

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.

Video and still images of the missile firing are available at: https://bit.ly/2YLnZKy