Sydney, 24 August 2022 (TDI): The Australian Navy guided missile ship HMAS Sydney, launched the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile on the seas of Hawaii.

The missile was launched during the biennial international integrated air and missile defense exercise, Pacific Dragon 22.

The Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile was successfully launched by completing the target of destroying an airborne drone.

Moreover, the Royal Canadian Navy, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, the Republic of Korea Navy, the US Missile Defense Agency, and the US Navy all collaborated to operate HMAS Sydney in launching the missile.

Exercise Pacific Dragon

From August 5 to 15, a biennial multinational integrated air and missile defense exercise was held at the Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands (PMRF) on the shore of Kauai in Hawaii and is termed Exercise Pacific Dragon 2022.

Furthermore, it included a live-fire intercept of a short-range ballistic missile using a Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) Block IA.

Exercise Pacific Dragon 2022 is concerned with regional integrated air and missile defense capacity. It is the US-led exercise that aims to enhance tactical and technical coordination and interoperability.

Australia’s Participation in the exercise

There were several participating units in exercise Pacific Dragon including HMAS Supply, Sydney, HMCS Vancouver, ROKS Sejong the Great, and the Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands.

The participation of Australian HMAS Sydney in the exercise was part of its commitment to regular regional deployments.

Apart from this, the Australian ships and the Australian Defence Force troops are carrying out joint drills and other engagements with Australia’s regional allies as well.

Moreover, five Royal Australian Navy ships have also been conducting regional presence deployments in the Indo-Pacific.

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