HMAS Arunta executes a live missile firing off the coast of Hawaii during RIMPAC 2020. Credit: Royal Australian Navy.

The Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Anzac-class frigate HMAS Arunta has fired surface-to-air missiles at the Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2020 in Hawaii.

It is the first frigate to complete the Anzac Midlife Capability Assurance Program (AMCAP).

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The missile firing was carried out along with naval ships from Canada and the US. It showcased the lethality of the Anzac-class frigate and the Australian systems.

Commanding Officer Arunta Commander Troy Duggan said: “This is the first time an AMCAP frigate has participated in RIMPAC and demonstrates the capability of the new phased array radar suite as an integrated sensor for the combat system.”

Firings of the vessel were carried out on the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii.

Remote controlled drones were used to simulate missile attack profiles against the vessel following which Arunta engaged with Surface-to-Air Missiles.

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In June last year, Arunta rejoined the fleet following completion of a 20-month-long AMCAP upgrade, which provided the frigate with the first CEAFAR2-L long-range phased-array air search radar.

RAN’s another guided-missile destroyer, HMAS Hobart, also carried out a live fire at RIMPAC 2020.

This exercise makes it the first Hobart-class guided missile destroyer to carry out a live fire and makes it one of the most sophisticated and lethal warship operated by RAN.

As part of the exercise, Hobart fired an SM-2 standard missile successfully against an unmanned target.

The Australian Department of Defence recently announced that four RAN vessels and around 700 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel arrived in Hawaii for RIMPAC 2020.

The vessels that are a part of the RIMPAC 2020 are the HMA Ships Hobart, Stuart, Arunta, and Sirius.

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