Navy’s high
end war fighting capability has been given a major boost, with the successful
firing of a Harpoon Block II Missile.
The missile
was fired at a land target at the United States Missile Range Facility at Point
Mugu California from HMAS Perth during the Anzac Class Frigate’s recent
deployment to the United States.
Commodore
Warfare, CDRE Stuart Mayer says the importance of the test firing shouldn’t be
understated.
“These
firings significantly increase the versatility and potency of one of the Navy's
key weapons systems,’ CDRE Mayer told Navy News.
“We now have
the ability to conduct long range attacks against land targets or ships
operating in the littoral space. The demonstration of this capability and the
successful upgrade of the ship’s systems to accommodate the advanced harpoon
missile make a great contribution to Navy’s ability to project power to fight
and win at sea and support forces ashore.”
The firings
were planned in detail by the recently formed Australian Maritime Warfare
Centre (AWMC), which operates from Garden Island, Sydney. The AMWC is the
centre of extensive maritime warfare subject matter expertise and corporate
knowledge. A specialist weapons test team from the AMWC embarked in Perth to
oversee the firings.
Commanding
Officer HMAS Perth CAPT Mal Wise says the firing was a major highlight for his
crew. “We launched the first harpoon against a land-based target and the second
against a moored target very close to the beach. Both missiles hit their marks,
“CAPT Wise said.
“We knew we
were playing a key role in what was a very significant event. There was a lot
at stake. So when we received confirmation that the Missile had hit the target,
the team was very excited and more than a little relieved. This success represents
a great deal of hard work and focused effort by the Crew of Perth”
The firing
is the culmination of two inter-related projects. Project C 1348 Phase A sought
to deliver a Harpoon firing capability to Anzac Class Frigates. Joint Project
One Phase R aimed to upgrade the Harpoon to a Block Two Standard.
Prior to the
firings, HMAS Perth completed the first phase of an upgrade to improve her
weapon systems and sensor arrays. The improvements under the Anti-Ship Missile
Defence (ASMD) upgrade include a new Australian designed and built digital
Active Phased Array Radar and increased performance for the existing combat
management system. On 28 November 2011 the Government announced that the ASMD
upgrade would be fitted to all Anzac Class frigates over the next five years.
HMAS Arunta
is the second ship to undergo the ASMD conversion which began at BEA Henderson
in Western Australia in April this year.
(RAN)
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