Australia has formally accepted MBDA's ASRAAM short-range air-to-air missile into full operational service on its air force Boeing F/A-18 Hornet multirole fighters. The Royal Australian Air Force's three frontline F/A-18 squadrons at Tindal and Williamtown air bases will receive ASRAAM rounds, in addition to the service's Hornet operational conversion unit.
MBDA had concluded ASRAAM deliveries to the RAAF before the 20 August ceremony, with approval for entry into service following some 20 test firings conducted in Australia and the USA since 2000. A final test series of five launches against target drones was completed last May, according to MBDA. Production of ASRAAM is also more than half-way through for launch customer the UK Royal Air Force.
Source: Flight International
