Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile Launch from HMAS Melbourne

HMAS Melbourne (FFG 05) successfully launched an Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) in a test off the east coast of Australia. The missile firing was the first conducted in Automatic Self Defence (ASD) mode from one of three Royal Australian Navy guided missile frigates (FFG). The ESSM is a short range, self defence weapon, optimised for anti-ship missile defence. The test was conducted as part of HMAS Melbourne's three week Systems Qualification Trials (SQT) following a period of dry docking and maintenance for much of the year.