The Royal Australian Navy’s newest ship has been launched during a ceremony at Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide. The Hobart Class Destroyer Sydney carries a proud name and is a significant warfighting enhancement to Australia’s fleet.

Air Warfare Destroyers like HMAS Sydney (DDG-42) use a combination of global and Australian technology, to provide defence to a Task Group from air, surface and submarine threats. They are the first Australian ships equipped with the U.S. Aegis weapon system, which significantly enhances Navy warfighting capability and allows them to work more closely with our allies than ever before.

The Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett said the launching of HMAS Sydney (DDG-42) is a significant milestone for industry and Defence.

«As Sydney floats clear of her synchrolift, she will continue her journey towards decades of service to the nation», CN told the launch ceremony. «In the last three years we have seen the launch of the first two Air Warfare Destroyers – HMAS Hobart (DDG-39) and HMAS Brisbane (DDG-41) – and with the launch today of Sydney, the class is now complete. They are powerful, elegant new warships that will serve Australia as a key part of our fleet for decades to come – a fleet that will be strong, agile, intelligent, and lethal».

HMAS Sydney (DDG-42) will continue fitting out prior to the commencement of sea trials next year.

 

Characteristics

Length	481.3 feet/146.7 m
Beam	61 feet/18.6 m
Draft	23.6 feet/7.2 m
Full load displacement	7,000 tonnes
Main Engine	36 MW/48,276 hp
Top speed	28+ knots/32 mph/52 km/h
Range at 18+ knots/21 mph/33 km/h	5,000+ NM/5,779 miles/9,300 km
Crew	186
Accommodation	234
Combat System	Aegis Weapon System Baseline 7.1
	AN/SPY-1D(V) Phased Array Radar (81 NM/93 miles/150 km)
	AN/SPQ-9B Horizon Search Radar
	Mk-41 Vertical Launch System (48 VLS cells: RIM-162 Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM)/Standard Missile-2 (SM-2)/SM-6)
	Mk-45 Mod.4 5” (127-mm) 62 Calibre Gun (Range: 20 NM/23 miles/37 km)
	Advanced Harpoon Weapon Control (2 × 4 launchers)
	Electronic Warfare (EW) Suite
	Very Short Range Air and Surface Defence
	Nulka Active Missile Decoy system
	Integrated Sonar System incorporating a hull mounted and towed array sonar
	Communications Suite
Aviation	Flightdeck and hangar for one helicopter
Boats	Two Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boats (RHIBs)