Notts missiles destroyed

Members of the ordnance disposal team attach CLC to a Sea Dart booster motor.

An ADF explosive ordnance disposal team recently destroyed $30 million worth of Royal Navy guided missiles after they were declared unsafe from salt water immersion.

The Sea Dart guided missiles came from the HMS Nottingham, which made international news headlines when she ran aground off Lord Howe Island in July.

A team from the Joint Ammunition Logistics Organisation (JALO) based at Orchard Hills, was tasked to aid members of the Royal Navy and Defence Munition personnel from UK, in the disposal of the unsafe explosive ordnance.

The Sea Dart is a surface-to-air guided missile fitted with a blast fragmentation warhead. Each missile weighs 550kg, is more than 4m long with a diameter of half a metre and is worth about $2 million.

The main component affected by salt water was the 275kg solid booster motor in the missiles, which resulted in a decrease of stability of the ordnance.

• By CPL Sean Burton

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