Navy Successfully Tests Aspide Anti-Aircraft Missile

3 Juli 2009

KD Laksamana Hang Nadim firing Aspide (photo : PRMKTL)

KUALA LUMPUR – The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has successfully concluded its live firing of the Aspide missile launched from the naval surface-to-air system in the Malacca Straits early today.

Fleet Operations Commander Vice-Admiral Datuk Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin said the missile was launched from one of its war ships, KD Laksamana Hang Nadim.

“The missile hit a target towed by a Learjet. To save cost, the navy conducted the missile campaign simultaneously with the ongoing weekly Pangkor War exercise series,” he said in a statement today.

Ahmad Kamarulzaman said the success of the exercise had proven the RMN preparedness in handling airborne threats.

Aspide - surfaceto air missile (photo : KLSReview)

Aspide is an Italian missile system developed from the American Sparrow AIM-7E Sparrow, employed as both an air-to-air and surface-to-air missile that first entered into service in 1987.

The Aspide missile is one of anti-air missile systems onboard the RMN war ships ranging from the Laksamana class, aged over 26 years.

“Despite that, KD Laksamana Hang Nadim had shown its capability with the success of the missile launch. The missile was guided by a semi-active radar with a high accuracy to a distance of 20km at the speed of 600 metres per seconds.”

Ahmad Kamarulzaman said the exercise also involved KD Sri Inderapura, KD Perak, KD Laksamana Tun Abdul Jamil, KD Laksamana Tan Pusmah, a Fennec helicopter, a CB90 boat, the Test Control and Weapon System Assessment Division, and the RMN armour and explosive depot.

The Science and Technology Institute for Defence (STRIDE) analysed the missile firing exercise, he added. – Bernama


(The Malaysian Insider)