06/30/2015: The Royal Australian Navy Adelaide class frigate, HMAS Melbourne, has successfully fired two Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles, reinforcing her war-fighting and mariner skills.
The missile firings were conducted off the coast of New South Wales on 24 June against an unmanned aerial target launched from the Beecroft Range at Jervis Bay.
Melbourne’s MK-41 Vertical Launch System deployed the missiles, controlled in flight, resulting in a successful engagement with the target as part of her operational training program.
The Evolved Sea Sparrow is a medium-range, semi-active homing missile that makes flight corrections via radar and midcourse data uplinks.
It can be used against Surface-to-Air and Surface-to-Surface targets.
The missile is one of the suite of weapons use by Australian frigates.
Later this year, Melbourne will deploy to the Middle East as part of Operation MANITOU where she will support efforts to counter and deter terrorism and the trade of narcotics.
Credit: Australian Ministry of Defence:6/26/15