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Royal Australian Navy Hobart-class guided missile destroyer HMAS Sydney has returned to Australia following 131 days operating across the Indo-Pacific demonstrating Australia's commitment to regional security.
The successful regional presence deployment concluded with the ship's company being reunited with family and friends upon their return to Fleet Base East earlier in the week.
While at sea, Sydney participated in a range of multinational exercises and activities with partner nations including the United States, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Chile, Italy and Indonesia.
The guided missile destroyer participated in Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), the world's largest international maritime exercise, as well as Exercises Pacific Dragon, Pacific Vanguard and Nichi-Gou Trident, undertaking activities from integrated air and missile defence to high-end maritime warfighting.
Fleet Commander, Rear Admiral Anita Williams said HMAS Sydney made an important contribution to Australia's regional engagement efforts.
“HMAS Sydney's deployment demonstrated Australia's ongoing commitment to working with our regional partners to support a secure, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Rear Admiral Williams said.
“The ship's company operated alongside allies and partners throughout the region, strengthening professional relationships and demonstrating Navy's ability to contribute to collective maritime security.”
Following these international exercises, HMAS Sydney rendezvoused with Anzac Class frigate HMAS Stuart in the South China Sea, conducting regional presence activities and exercising rights and freedoms in accordance with international law.
HMAS Sydney also conducted 17 replenishment-at-sea operations, including two helicopter resupply activities, receiving fuel, food and other supplies to sustain its operations across thousands of nautical miles in the Indo-Pacific.
Commanding Officer HMAS Sydney, Commander Hayden Jenkins, said the deployment provided valuable opportunities to conduct advanced training and engage with regional partners.
“Operating alongside our regional partners provided valuable opportunities to strengthen relationships, enhance professional skills and further develop our ability to work together at sea,” Commander Jenkins said.
“Participation in high-end warfighting exercises throughout the deployment demonstrated Sydney's readiness, lethality and warfighting capability.
“This included the successful firing of a naval strike missile and a Hellfire missile engagement by Sydney's embarked MH-60R Seahawk helicopter during RIMPAC.
“I am extremely proud of our sailors and officers, who demonstrated professionalism, teamwork and dedication throughout the deployment.”
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