HMAS Arunta fires first ESSM following upgrade

The Royal Australian Navy warship HMAS Arunta has fired an Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) off the coast of Western Australia following a 20-month upgrade.

The Anzac-class frigate is the first of her class to undergo the Anzac Midlife Capability Assurance Program (AMCAP) upgrade at Henderson, Western Australia as part of Australia’s Warship Asset Management Agreement (WAMA) Alliance.

The ESSM is a medium-range weapon that uses radar homing guidance to counter anti-ship missiles moving at supersonic speeds, and forms part of Arunta’s air defence capability.

Arunta is a long-range frigate capable of air defence, surface and undersea warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance and interdiction and is home ported at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia.