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With a heart-thumping bang and a deafening whoosh, the last of Australia's ageing Rapier anti-aircraft missiles were despatched into history during a live-fire exercise at Woomera yesterday.
The Rapier Ground Based Air Defence Weapon System has been the defence force's frontline anti-aircraft and missile-attack weapon for 25 years.
It is being replaced by the Swedish-built RBS-70 missile, regarded as far more efficient.
The Rapier has been in operation with the Australian army's 16th Air Defence Regiment since its introduction in 1980.
This week, soldiers from the regiment's Woodside barracks gave the Rapier a symbolic farewell, firing the last remaining 25 missiles at a target towed 5km behind a Learjet over the skies of the restricted firing range at Lake Hart.
Yesterday, the troops fired five of the missiles, each costing $55,847, at the 3m long target, scoring what are termed “tactical hits” on each occasion. Although the missiles didn't actually destroy the tiny target, they detonated close enough to destroy a larger real target such as another missile or enemy aircraft.
In recent years the Rapier's firing system has become notoriously unreliable, sometimes breaking down completely and remaining inoperative until after lengthy repairs.
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