Article Posted on : - Jan 21, 2010

Standard Missile-2 Block IIIA, anti-air warfare missile (SM-2 Blk IIIA). Raytheon Photo.

JERVIS BAY, AUSTRALIA (BNS): Royal Australian Navy recently test-fired the Standard Missile-2 Block IIIA anti-air warfare missile during recent tests on board the HMAS Melbourne.

According to a news release by the Raytheon Company, the missile test-fired is part of a long-range area air defense capability capitalising on communication techniques, midcourse guidance, advanced signal processing and propulsion improvements.

"This was the first time an SM-2 has been launched by any navy from an upgraded frigate, clearing the way for other fleets to make similar upgrades," said Ron Shields, Raytheon's SM-2 program director, as reported in the release.

The Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) is the latest in a long history of highly capable anti-air warfare weapons. SM-2 is an all weather, ship-launched, medium-to-long range, fleet air defence missile system with a dual-thurst, solid-propellant rocket motor (MK104). The missile carries a common high-explosive fragmentation warhead (MK125).

The missile's primary mission is fleet-area air defence and ship self-defence, but it has also demonstrated an extended-area air defence projection capability.