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The Royal Malaysian Navy successfully fired a missile outside of Malaysian seas for the first time ever.
The KD LEKIR corvette from The Royal Malaysian Navy fired an MBDA Exocet MM40 Block 2 missile during a sinking exercise at the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) on July 12.
The missile fired from KD LEKIR sank the target, the decommissioned USS Rodney M. Davis warship.
In preparation for RIMPAC, the corvette fired the same missile at a 36-kilometer target, during the Taming Sari exercise held in the Strait of Malacca in May this year.
Admiral Tan Sri Mohd Reza Mohd Sany and Western Armada deputy chief First Admiral Farizal Myeor from Malaysia were present for the launch at the K. Mark Takai Pacific Warfighting Centre on Ford Island, Hawaii.
“RIMPAC is the best platform to increase interoperability between those who take part. The involvement is an experience that will elevate the professionalism of the KD Lekir crew,” Tan Sri Mohd Reza said in a statement.
Over 28 surface ships, four submarines, 170 aircraft, and 30 unmanned systems from 26 nations were involved at this years exercise.
“Live-fire events provide realistic training that refine partner nations’ abilities to plan, communicate and conduct complex maritime operations such as precision and long-range strike capabilities,” the US Navy wrote on its website.
RIMPAC is conducted to improve cooperation and joint defensive response among Pacific nations. Held since 1971, it is the world’s largest international marine exercise.
The exercise, which runs from June 29 to August 4 off the coast of Southern California and in the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands, is being organised by the US Navy’s Indo-Pacific Command.
CJMY
