In a multinational training exercise to sink a decommissioned ship during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), the United States and Australian navies put their interoperability to the test.
Royal Australian Navy helicopter MH-60R helicopter ‘Dundee’ from Flight 605, currently embarked in the Arleigh Burke-class AEGIS Destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer, touched down on the flight deck of Hobart-class destroyer HMAS Sydney, off the coast of Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands.
The landing took place just minutes after Sydney’s embarked MH-60 Romeo helicopter ‘Fenrir’ from Flight 607 had launched equipped with two AGM-114N Hellfire missiles.
Sydney’s flight maintenance team swung back into action loading Dundee with two AGM-114N Hellfire missiles in excellent time.
Dundee was back in the air with two missiles securely in place and on their flightpath to fulfill their mission with Fenrir.
Flight Commander 607 Lieutenant Commander Joshua Slaytor said the joint mission was to launch four Hellfire missiles at Ex USS Mobile Bay.
“The maintenance team worked hard to prepare and successfully load four Hellfire missiles back-to-back on both MH-60Rs,” he said.
“Flight 605 has been integrated with Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 37 on the USS Wayne E. Meyer for the last few weeks – training, conducting flying operations and working alongside US Navy counterparts.
“It was great to further test interoperability today with the cross-deck Hellfire missile loading prior to unloading the payload on the target, the decommissioned ship USS Mobile Bay.”
‘Through RIMPAC 26, Sydney has demonstrated that we have the capability, capacity and resolve to defend against any potential adversary.’
Aviation Warfare Officer (AvWO) Sub-Lieutenant Clayton Alexander was the officer in charge of the serial and was tasked with planning and executing the Hellfire component of the sinking exercise (SINKEX).
“Conducting a dual helo Hellfire firing of four missiles was a career-defining moment and is a testament to the training received back at HMAS Albatross,” Sub-Lieutenant Alexander said.
“The task involved complex planning, coordination and precise execution from both aircraft.
“It’s a rare opportunity to be involved in a Hellfire firing and to be executed successfully requires teamwork from not only the maintenance team but multiple ships and flights.
“The whole flight and ship’s company were thrilled that the firing was successful and has been a highlight of the deployment so far.”
Commanding Officer HMAS Sydney Commander Hayden Jenkins said that the live-firing event was a great training exercise, building on Sydney’s achievements since participating in RIMPAC two years ago.
“The sheer scale of RIMPAC 26 provides an unsurpassed training environment. The opportunity to participate in a live firing event involving participants from multiple nations has strengthened Sydney’s interoperability and enhanced person-to-person relationships,” Commander Jenkins said.
“Ship’s company worked effectively to support two MH-60R helicopters prepare for, and conduct, the RIMPAC live-firing event. This experience has enhanced Sydney’s capability and preparedness.
“Live-firing events require detailed planning to ensure safety and environmental compliance. Sydney worked closely with fellow RIMPAC participants to ensure that these requirements were maintained throughout the live-firing activity.
“Through RIMPAC 26, Sydney has demonstrated that we have the capability, capacity and resolve to defend against any potential adversary.”
