The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has integrated the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) into its surface combatant fleet via a live-fire sinking exercise (SINKEX) conducted during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026.
RAN frigate HMAS Sydney fired the NSM anti-ship projectile at USS Mobile Bay, a decommissioned U.S. Navy Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser. The occasion marked only the second time the RAN has fired an NSM during a RIMPAC exercise.
Also involved in the multinational SINKEX earlier this month were two RAN MH-60 helicopters, each of which fired two Hellfire missiles at the same target.
One of the helicopters was embarked on the Australian frigate and the other flew from Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer.
HMAS Sydney’s Commanding Officer Commander Hayden Jenkins commented: “Sydney’s motto is ‘Thorough and Ready’, and the crew have demonstrated that today… The Naval Strike Missile provides Sydney with a powerful maritime strike capability. This live-firing demonstrates the lethality of the ship as well as the professionalism and competence of the crew.”
Principal warfare officer onboard HMAS Sydney Lieutenant Brendan Howard added: “To see it all come together like clockwork, according to plan, was very satisfying.”
Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2026 (RIMPAC 2026) is the 30th iteration of international maritime exercise, which began in 1971 and is now hosted every two years.
It’s based in and around the Hawaiian islands and runs from June 24 to July 31; this year it features 30 nations, more than 30 surface ships, five submarines, 15 national land forces, more than 206 aircraft and 30,000 personnel.
- You can read more details on the Defence Australia website
