Sydney flexes missile power
HMAS Sydney fired a Naval Strike Missile (NSM) as part of a multinational sinking exercise during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC).
It was the second time the RAN has fired an NSM during a RIMPAC exercise.
During RIMPAC 2024, Sydney achieved the major milestone of integrating the enhanced lethality strike capability NSM into the surface combatant fleet.
At RIMPAC this year, the target of the NSM strike was the decommissioned USS Mobile Bay.
Mobile Bay was a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser in the USN that served from 1987 until her decommissioning in 2023.
After the NSM strike, Mobile Bay was engaged with two Hellfire missiles from Sydney’s embarked MH-60 Romeo Flight 607 ‘Fenrir’ and two more Hellfires from RAN MH-60 Romeo Flight 605 ‘Dundee’, embarked on USS Wayne E. Meyer.
'To see it all come together like clockwork, according to plan, was very satisfying for the entire crew.'
Leading the serial, Sydney’s PWO LEUT Brendan Howard said it was a crucial day for the whole crew.
“We have been working toward today before our arrival in Hawaii as well as solidifying tactics and relationships at the RIMPAC pre-briefs during the shore phase,” LEUT Howard said.
“To see it all come together like clockwork, according to plan, was very satisfying for the entire crew.”
CO Sydney CMDR Hayden Jenkins said the missile firing demonstrated the ship’s enhanced lethality.
“Sydney’s motto is ‘Thorough and Ready’, and the crew have demonstrated that today with continued collaboration with our allies and partners throughout the live-firing event,” CMDR Jenkins said.
“The Naval Strike Missile provides Sydney with a powerful maritime strike capability. This live-firing demonstrates the lethality of the ship as well as the professionalism and competence of the crew.
“I thank all of Sydney’s crew for their dedication and hard work to achieve this outcome. This live-firing is just one example of the success that is being achieved each day by a highly trained and proficient team.
“It is very rewarding to see the professional pride and enthusiasm of the many young Australians working in Sydney as they highlight their skill sets and professionalism in front of the 31 nations represented here at RIMPAC.”
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