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HMAS
Sydney has been fitted with eight silos to carry the Sea
Sparrow.
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Operational
release has been given to three Anzac Class frigates equipped
with the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile system.
This important milestone acknowledges the ships’ ability to achieve
defined operational outcomes laid down in the Defence Preparedness
documentation.
The frigates equipped with the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile are
HMA Ships Warramunga, Stuart and Parramatta.
Stuart is in The Gulf and Parramatta is on her way to Hawaii for
Rimpac 04.
Chief of Navy, VADM Chris Ritchie, agreed to the Operational Release
recognising that the ships are now providing an important national
defence capability and following outstanding results in exercises
and real world scenarios.
The new system has been the subject of intensive testing and evaluation.
Australia is the first of 10 nations involved in developing the
Evolved Sea Sparrow missile system to formally reach operational
release of the weapon.
The missile is specifically designed to defeat anti-ship missile
threats and subsequently significantly increases the ability of
these ships to defend themselves.
The ESSM was procured under Project SEA 1428, a $660 million project
which delivered the first missiles in January 2003.
The remaining five Anzac frigates are being similarly fitted with
the missile systems under this program. The Operational Release
status does not absolve contractors from responsibilities to address
those aspects that still require resolution.
Meanwhile work to fit the Evolved Sea Sparrows to four of the
Navy’s 4100 tonne FFGs, continues.
Earlier this month the eight silos from which the missiles will
be fired were lowered into the bow of HMAS Sydney, now undergoing
a $200 million upgrade at Garden Island in Sydney.
