A Royal New Zealand Navy helicopter has fired an anti-ship guided missile into a decommissioned US Navy vessel during a major international military exercise off Hawaii.
The Seasprite helicopter, embarked on frigate HMNZS Te Mana, launched the Penguin missile at the former amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu during Exercise RIMPAC 2026, the New Zealand Defence Force said.
The missile travelled at high subsonic speed and carried a 120kg warhead.
According to the NZDF, it struck the hull of the target vessel before detonating inside as intended, causing significant damage and compromising the ship’s integrity.
The missile firing formed part of a Sinking Exercise, known as a SINKEX, involving several participating navies.
Such exercises are designed to test airborne and shipborne weapons against targets at sea.
RIMPAC, or the Rim of the Pacific exercise, brings together military forces from multiple countries for training in and around Hawaii.
The NZDF described the missile launch as successful.
