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The ships have fired at land and airborne targets during a multinational exercise with regional partners.
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Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ships HMAS Sydney and HMAS Perth have linked up with the Royal Canadian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Republic of Korea Navy and the United States Navy for Exercise Pacific Vanguard 2022.
Combining off the tropical island of Guam, the nations engaged in an integrated air and missile defence exercise.
RAN destroyer HMAS Sydney’s contribution included the successful firing of a Harpoon surface-to-surface missile at a land target.
HMAS Perth also tested its capability, with the frigate engaging an airborne target with an Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile.
The week-long activities followed an opening ceremony on board the JMSDF Ship Izumo attended by commanding officers from all participating nations.
This included an address by Australian Task Group Commander and Commanding Officer Sydney, Commander Andrew Hough.
“Operating with JMSDF Ships Izumo, Takanami and Takashio, ROKN Ships Sejong the Great and Munmu the Great and HMCS Vancouver during Pacific Vanguard has been a fantastic opportunity for Sydney’s crew to test their ability to integrate with partner navies,” CMDR Hough said.
“We welcome every opportunity to demonstrate and test our ships’ advanced combat capabilities and build on our reputation as a trusted and professional partner.
“We are always keen to show our friends and allies that we can work with multiple partners, a variety of ships and aircraft and demonstrate our ability to respond together to challenging threats.”
Commander Hough went on to laud the efforts of crew aboard HMAS Sydney.
“I congratulate every member of the team for working so well together, and with our partners, to achieve this milestone,” he said.
HMAS Sydney’s contribution formed part of a broader regional presence deployment, following multilateral air and ballistic missile defence training during Exercise Pacific Dragon.
RAN ships also recently took part in Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2022 as part of a regional presence deployment.
In total, five RAN ships across two task groups have been conducting regional presence deployments throughout the Indo-Pacific over recent months.
[Related; Exercise Pitch Black winds down]
