Two Nowra-based companies have played a major role in a historic missile firing by Royal Australian Navy Hobart class Guided Missile Destroyer.
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Air Affairs Australia (AAA) and Air Target Services (ATS), both located at the Albatross Aviation Technology Park (AATP), west of Nowra, were part of the successful missile firing carried out in Australian waters by HMAS Hobart.
HMAS Hobart (III) became the first Hobart class Guided Missile Destroyer to fire a missile in Australian waters, firing an SM-2 Standard Missile in the East Australian Exercise Area against an unmanned target.
Air Affairs and ATS provided a Phoenix Jet Unmanned Aerial Target that was successfully launched and flown towards HMAS Hobart to emulate a realistic airborne threat.
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During an attack profile, HMAS Hobart responded with a missile launch that successfully tracked and engaged the Phoenix Jet UAT.
The firing provided an opportunity to prove recent upgrades to the ship's Aegis combat system and prepare the ship's company for their upcoming and Task Group deployment.
Commanding Officer, Commander Ryan Gaskin, said the successful firing was a significant step in progressing navy's high-end warfighting capability.
"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," Commander Gaskin said.
"Our advanced sensors provide a real-time recognised maritime picture of the tactical situation combined with state-of-the-art weapon systems, giving us a formidable area air defence capability."
Leading Seaman Electronic Technician Katie Thorburn was directly responsible for firing the missile and said her training had prepared her well.
"I wasn't nervous firing the missile as I'd done it before and we've trained a lot of hours for this. Last year we trained for over 150 hours for a similar scenario and we've done over a week's worth of training this year for this firing," LS Thorburn said.
"I wasn't nervous at all - after all of our training, it was all down to muscle memory."
HMAS Hobart's weapons systems include a Mk41 Vertical Launch System containing SM-2 Standard Missile and Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles, a Mk45 5-inch main gun, Phalanx Close-In Weapons System, two 25mm Typhoon guns, and MU90 and Mk54 light-weight torpedoes for subsurface defence.
The first of three Hobart Class warships, 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.
The Air Affairs Australia Phoenix Jet is a remotely piloted aircraft that operates as an unmanned aerial target (UAT) in support of the Australian Defence Force weapons tracking and firing programs.
The Australian designed Phoenix Jet is a fixed wing, small to medium size jet powered UAT capable of high performance flight and manufactured exclusively in Australia by Air Affairs.
The fully deployable Phoenix Jet UAT system comprises a mobile launcher, ground control station and support equipment.
The complete system can be easily transported for operations at several approved ADF ranges or can be adapted for shipboard launch at sea.
The Phoenix Jet has been in service since 2012 and is used by the RAN, RAAF and Australian Army.
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Robert Crawford
Robert Crawford is a senior journalist at the South Coast Register, for Australian Community Media . Everyone's got a story, what's yours? Email robert.crawford@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Robert Crawford is a senior journalist at the South Coast Register, for Australian Community Media . Everyone's got a story, what's yours? Email robert.crawford@austcommunitymedia.com.au
