Anzac-class frigate to test-fire Sea Ceptor in New Zealand’s first naval missile launch in seven years
HMZNS Te Mana sails into Sydney Harbour in July 2023 following a week of drills with Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Warramunga in the East Australian Exercise Area off Jervis Bay. (Photo: NZDF)
HMNZS Te Mana is conduct a five-month deployment to test all the new equipment it received during the recent Frigate Systems Upgrade (FSU) project, including a first missile firing since 2016.
The Royal New Zealand Navy Anzac-class frigate, HMNZS Te Mana, is set to fire the Sea Ceptor missile as part of its Naval Operational Test and Evaluation (NOTE) programme.
The missile system was installed as part of the Frigate Systems Upgrade (FSU) project for the RNZN’s two Anzac-class frigates and provides a local area air defence capability.
According to the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) the Sea Ceptor firing will take place ‘towards the end of this year’ and is ‘the final element of the NOTE process’.
This will be the first missile firing by a RNZN ship for
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