According to information published by the Twitter account of Commander Australian Fleet on April 30, 2021, HMAS Sydney launched her first Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile during combat system trials off the USA recently. The firing is the first of many used to assess the combat capability of Australia’s newest DDG.
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HMAS Sydney DDG 42 fires RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow missile for first time (Picture source: Twitter account of Commander Australian Fleet)
HMAS Sydney (DDG 42), named after the city of Sydney, New South Wales, is the last of the three ships of the Hobart Class guided-missile destroyers. Her sister ships are HMAS Hobart (III) and HMAS Brisbane (III). HMAS Sydney is based on the Navantia designed F100 frigate and is equipped with the Aegis Combat System.
The main armament of the HMAS Sydney (V) comprises one Mk 45 5” 62 Calibre Gun, 2 x 25mm M242 Bushmaster on Typhoon mounts and 1 x Phalanx CIWS, one Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (48 VLS Cells), RIM-66 Standard 2 missile, RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow missile and one advanced Harpoon via 2 x quad launchers.
The Hobart-class is a ship class of three air warfare destroyers (AWDs) being built for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Planning for ships to replace the Adelaide-class frigates and restore the capability last exhibited by the Perth-class destroyers began by 2000, initially under acquisition project SEA 1400, which was redesignated SEA 4000.
The Hobart class ship has a length overall of 147.2 meters, a maximum beam of 18.6 meters, and a draught of 5.17 meters. At launch, the ships will have a full-load displacement of 6,250 tonnes (6,150 long tons; 6,890 short tons). The Hobarts have been designed to allow for upgrades and installation of new equipment, with a theoretical maximum displacement of 7,000 tonnes (6,900 long tons; 7,700 short tons).
The RIM-162 Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) is a development of the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missile used to protect ships from attacking missiles and aircraft. ESSM is designed to counter supersonic maneuvering anti-ship missiles. ESSM also has the ability to be "quad-packed" in the Mark 41 Vertical Launch System, allowing up to four ESSMs to be carried in a single cell.
