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Australian Defence Force personnel have taken part in air-to-air missile live-firing off the coast of New South Wales to assist US Navy trials.
Royal Australian Air Force and Royal Australian Navy personnel, supported by United States Air Force 53rd Wing and United States Navy NAWCWD specialists, conducted the advanced target trials from 7 June to 2 July this year.
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The live missile firings, using AIM-9X Sidewinder (Block II) missiles, were reportedly undertaken to contribute to qualification trials of BQM-74E aerial targets during Exercise Archer 25 off the coast of Wollongong and Nowra.
“Exercise Archer 25 was a live air-to-air missile firing generating efficiencies by also contributing to Navy’s BQM-74E qualification trials of their new sub sonic aerial target, the BQM-74E,” according to Defence.
During the live-firing, RAAF F-35A Lightning II and EA-18G Growler aircraft with AIM-9X (Block II) Sidewinder and AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air missiles were flown from RAAF Base Williamtown in NSW. RAAF E-7A Wedgetail were also launched from RAAF Base Williamtown during the sorties.
BQM-74E reusable and recoverable subsonic turbojet-powered target drones are primarily used to simulate the threat of a low-altitude antiship missile. Older versions of the drone, manufactured by Northrop Grumman, have been used by the US Navy since the 1960s.
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