HMAS Sydney (DDG42) destroyer performed the first firing of an SM-6 long-range air defence missile in the Royal Australian Navy. Australia's third Hobart-class AEGIS-equipped destroyer has marked the beginning of the RAN's transition to the successor to SM-2ER missiles in long-range air defence, SM-6.
The firing test was performed during the Pacific Dragon 2024 exercise. Raytheon has developed SM-6 to succeed the SM-2 family of air defence missiles used onboard Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and large-sized frigates serving in European navies.
Compared to the semi-active RF homing SM-2 series, SM-6 features an active RF seeker derived from an AIM-120C7 AMRAAM missile and a data link to get feed from other platforms like other ships and AEW&C for mid-course guidance.
RAN plans to use SM-6 on all of its Hobart-class destroyers and eventually the Hunter-class frigates based on the U.K.'s Type 26 frigate to use strike-length Mk41 VLS.
Previously, HMAS Sydney performed its first firing of Kongsberg's NSM cruise missile in its class. NSM is succeeding the RGM-84 Harpoon in a few other countries as the main ASuW weapon with more versatility and penetration capabilities.
