Singapore Rapiers in Woomera, SA.

165 SQN has proven the effectiveness of the weapon system and the proficiency of its personnel in a series of Live-Firing exercises, the recent ones being held in Woomera, South Australia.

 

"Live" Firing Exercise in Woomera, SA.:

Nose of the commercialised Antonov An-22 "Antheus" Cock. The world's largest propeller driven transport aircraft ever in daily use. Plane was used to transport our systems over to Woomera.

Unloading our systems from the An-22, which has four engines with counter-rotating propfans.

With stores loaded into vehicles and are ready to go. Transportation and logistical support by the Australian Army.

The Live-Firing Range 

The Live-Firing Range. In the background is Lake Hart. The abandoned building in the picture was used for a rocket launch control (ELDO's Europa launch vehicles) in the early days of Woomera. Our firing position was just at the edge of the salt lake. 

Firing Point. Our Rapier Systems deployed at Lake Hart. In the foreground is one of our Radar Trackers (for Blindfire mode).

 

"Live" Rapier Missiles being carried towards the firing point by two Air Defence Systems Specialists (ADSS) in Woomera. Woomera is a unique air and ground test range located in South Australia. About 450 km north of the State’s capital, Adelaide,

Rapier Missiles being loaded onto Launcher

Rapier Missiles being loaded onto launch beams by two Air Defence Systems Specialists (ADSS). Woomera is the site for South Australia’s defence and aerospace test and evaluation activities. The size of England, the range is one of the largest in the world.

Rapier Surface-to-Air Missile System 

Singapore Rapier's "Live" Firing Exercise conducted in Woomera Range, South Australia. Woomera consists of an area of approximately 127,000 square kilometres, which includes a major airfield complex and instrumented range of approximately 200 square kilometres.

Rapier Missile Launch 

Launch site overlooks Lake Hart, a 150-square kilometre saltpan designated as a weapons impact area, permitting live weapons and store drops. A desert climate ensures virtually no downtime because of weather.

Rapier Missile Launch 

The air weapons range is located in the northernmost part of Lake Hart. The range measures approximately 10km x 15km.

Distant shot of another Rapier Missile launch. The Woomera Instrumented Range (WIR) is managed by the Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU) and lies approximately 50 km to the north-west of Woomera Village.

NSmen of Charlie Flight Fire Unit 10 takes a quick shot against the backdrop of Lake Hart. From left: Kok Keong, Eddie Chua, Shaun Nathan, Gerard Roch, Krishnaraj, Stephen Chew, William Sim, Dave Ho, and in foreground from left: Ignatius Tan and Leslie. Pix was probably taken by Eugene Lim.

Sunset at Lake Hart as we await for darkness for our night firing.

The LearJet that's used in the target towing. Conceived by entrepreneur Bill Lear Sr. and has proven useful in many scientific roles with NASA. Its smooth and quiet  operation is a hallmark of LearJet.

The MTR-101 Reeling Machine from Kaiser Marquardt in Van Nuys, California, USA. Attached to it is the TRX Radar Augmented Tow Target. Picture taken in the hanger.

Rapier Night Live-Firing 

Rapier Missile being launched in the night. To give the system an all-weather capability, Marconi Space and Defence Systems developed the DN181 Blindfire Radar Tracker. In this Blindfire Rapier System, the Air Defence Systems Specialist need not track the target, this being fully automatic.

Rapier Missile leaves the launch beam.

Rapier Missile streaking off towards its acquired target.

Rapier Missile Launch 

A long exposure shot of a night launch.

 

back to top




About Woomera, South Australia

No town of Woomera existed prior to 1947. It and the rocket range facilities were constructed as a major undertaking. It was decided that a suitable aboriginal name should be found. The word "woomera" was decided upon as it meant a spear thrower - a device made out of a flat piece of wood with a wooden peg at one end. The spear would be mounted on the woomera and both spear and woomera held in one hand and parallel to the line of sight. The name was adopted on April 24, 1947. 

 


Location of Woomera, South Australia.

Woomera Township

By August 1950, Woomera population had reached 3,000, swelling to 3,500 six months later. Eventually, the town grew to a population of over 6,000 in the 1960s when range activities reached their peak. Currently, the population is sliding towards 1000, of which some 500 being US nationals. Today, entry to Woomera Village is no longer restricted. The history of Woomera's past is on show at the Woomera Heritage Centre and Aircraft and Missile Display Park. One of the highlights includes the recovered remains of the Redstone launch vehicle that launched WRESAT-1, Australia's first satellite, in 1967. (Special thanks to Mark Rigby for the information on the township of Woomera, at http://www.powerup.com.au/~woomera).

Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA) 

The WPA has been set aside by the Australian Government for both military and approved civil applications. The Woomera Instrumented Range (WIR) is a tenant of the WPA and can be configured to support international and nation space, aircraft, air and ground weapons test and evaluation programs. Occupying about 127,000km² in the state of South Australia, the WPA is comprised principally of undulating plateaus, salt lakes and low vegetation, enjoys largely unencumbered airspace, consistent and benign atmospheric conditions, and is electromagnetically quiet. (Special thanks to Geoff O'Callaghan for the information on WPA and its climate).

 

Aerial view of Woomera Range, with the airstrip in the foreground. Visit Woomera Travellers' Village website (http://www.woomera.com).

 

Defense Support Program Overseas Ground Station, Woomera Air Station, Australia.

back to top

 

Copyright (c) 1997 Singapore Rapier, 165 Squadron, Republic of Singapore Air Force. All rights reserved.