HMAS Brisbane (DDG-41) is the second of three ships of the Hobart Class guided missile destroyers. Her sister ships will be HMAS Hobart (DDG-39) and HMAS Sydney (DDG-42). The keel of HMAS Brisbane (DDG-41) was laid down on 3 February 2014 and was launched by Mrs. Robyn Shackleton on 15 December 2016.
HMAS Brisbane (DDG-41) at sea during builders trials viewed from her sister ship, HMAS Hobart (DDG-39)
HMAS Brisbane (DDG-41) is based on the Navantia designed F100 frigate and is coupled it with the Aegis Combat System. HMAS Sydney (DDG-42) is currently under construction in Australia by the Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance.
HMAS Brisbane (DDG-41) will provide air defence for accompanying ships in addition to land forces and infrastructure in coastal areas, and for self-protection against missiles and aircraft. The Aegis Combat System incorporating the state-of-the-art phased array radar, AN/SPY 1D(V), in combination with the SM-2 missile, will provide an advanced air defence system capable of engaging enemy aircraft and missiles at ranges in excess of 150 km/93 miles.
Brisbane will carry a helicopter for surveillance and response to support key warfare areas. The surface warfare function will include long range anti-ship missiles and a naval gun capable of firing extended range munitions in support of land forces.
Brisbane will also conduct Undersea Warfare and be equipped with modern sonar systems, decoys, surface-launched torpedoes and an array of effective close-in defensive weapons.
These capabilities ensure that the Hobart Class DDGs have the layered defensive and offensive capability required to counter conventional and asymmetric threats.
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)
06 March 2017, the Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance celebrated the successful completion of Sea Acceptance Trials by the first destroyer HMAS Hobart (DDGH-39) following 21 days at sea off the coast of South Australia.
Hobart Sea Acceptance Trials
AWD Alliance General Manager Paul Evans remarked that sea trials were a significant achievement for the Air Warfare Destroyer project in proving the advanced platform and combat systems on-board the ship. «Over the past five weeks, the AWD Alliance has conducted some 20 platform system tests and 45 combat system tests, to successfully validate Hobart’s complete Mission System. Combined, these systems will deliver a world leading capability for the Royal Australian Navy», said Evans. «Completing Acceptance Sea Trials on a first of class ship is a momentous occasion for the Alliance as we move closer to delivering Hobart to Defence. It has been achieved through the extraordinary efforts of the on-board crew and support team, whose dedication and commitment has been instrumental in ensuring the success of Hobart’s sea trials».
The Alliance is on track to deliver HMAS Hobart (DDGH-39) to Defence in June 2017 representing more than decade of dedication and effort by the AWD shipbuilding and combat system workforce on one of the most complex defence projects in Australia’s history.
Significant progress has been made on the AWD project and destroyer HMAS Hobart (DDGH-39) to reach this milestone with work commencing in January 2010, hull consolidation in March 2014, official launch in May 2015 and Builder’s Sea Trials in September 2016.
Shipbuilder ASC, shipbuilder manager Navantia, and combat systems integrator Raytheon Australia, offered their congratulations on the successful completion of Sea Acceptance Trials.
ASC Shipbuilding CEO, Mark Lamarre, expressed his pride in the shipbuilding workforce and the broader naval shipbuilding industry in Australia. «Successful completion of Sea Acceptance Trials is a great moment for the thousands of shipbuilders who have been working on this project, bringing the ship to life», Lamarre said. «This proves the highly skilled and professional naval shipbuilding capability that exists right here in South Australia. It is a testament to the collaborative nature of the project, which has seen industry working together to deliver to the RAN a new and potent air warfare capability. This achievement shows the way forward for future shipbuilding in Australia».
Navantia Australian Operations Director, Jorge Filgueira, echoed these sentiments: «Navantia acknowledges this significant achievement as being the result of a team effort, where Navantia’s experience as designer and shipbuilder has contributed significantly to the success of the Program», Filgueira said. «Navantia’s highly skilled team is well integrated within the AWD Alliance and is committed to having the Program achieve its delivery schedule. The results of the sea trials are very encouraging and provide the necessary confidence that we are on track to build up the capability that will be necessary to undertake the future naval continuous shipbuilding programs in Australia».
Managing Director of Raytheon Australia, Michael Ward, said that this is a momentous day for Raytheon Australia, its dedicated workforce and our nation’s sovereign defence industry. «The successful testing of the AWD combat system highlights the strength of Raytheon Australia’s capabilities in combat systems integration and the company’s ability to deliver to budget and schedule», Ward said. «As the combat systems integrator for the project, Raytheon Australia has applied its highly skilled AWD workforce of 350 people including architects, systems engineers and project managers to the project over the last decade. The combat system is what gives the AWDs their lethality. The work that Raytheon Australia has successfully undertaken is critical to the deterrent nature of the naval surface fleet and its ability to interoperate with the United States».
AWD Alliance Program Manager, Commodore Craig Bourke commented that the successful completion of Sea Acceptance Trials was achieved through the combined efforts of the 200+ crew on-board, with assistance from the Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force, and Defence industry. «Hobart’s sensors, weapons and communications systems have been put to the test by Royal Australian Air Force and civilian aircraft, Royal Australian Navy ships and helicopters through a complex series of simulated scenarios and battle space management», Commodore Bourke said. «This achievement demonstrates and proves the capacity of Australia’s sovereign defence industry to successfully build and integrate ships for our specific defence needs. It also speaks volumes about the AWD Alliance’s close level of customer involvement and collaboration on every aspect of the project, laying the foundations for future defence projects in Australia».
Further progress on the AWD Project is expected to be achieved in 2017 with the second destroyer, Brisbane undertaking Builder’s Sea Trials and third destroyer, Sydney, achieving hull consolidation later this 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)
15 December 2016, the Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance celebrated another major milestone with the official launch of the second destroyer HMAS Brisbane (DDGH-41) at the Techport Australia facility in Osborne, South Australia.
Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance celebrates launch of Second destroyer Brisbane
Over 4,000 people including Government, Naval and Defence industry dignitaries, alongside AWD Alliance employees and their families, watched as the ship’s sponsor Mrs. Robyn Shackleton, wife of former Chief of Navy and HMAS Brisbane II Commanding Officer Vice Admiral David Shackleton AO, broke a commemorative bottle of wine on the ship’s bow and officially named the ship «Brisbane».
Following the official naming ceremony, the ship was lowered in the Government of South Australia’s Common User Facility ship lift to float for the first time, signifying a moment of immense pride for the thousands of Australian ship builders and combat system integrators who have worked on the project for more than a decade.
AWD Alliance General Manager Lloyd Beckett said that the launch of Brisbane was further demonstration of significant progress on the Air Warfare Destroyer project and a great opportunity to celebrate the work of Australia’s shipbuilders and system integrators.
«Today’s launch is the culmination of more than a decade of work and dedication by thousands of Australians and other members of the AWD Alliance to deliver Australia’s most complex next generation defence project. It is a significant achievement and an exciting moment in the history of the AWD project, with the milestone marking the AWD Alliance’s return to cost and schedule. Further progress will be evident in 2017 as the first destroyer Hobart completes Acceptance Sea Trials and is delivered to the Department of Defence, while the third destroyer Sydney completes block consolidation and hull integration», he said.
The AWD Alliance, made up of shipbuilder ASC, mission systems integrator Raytheon Australia and the Department of Defence, is responsible for delivering three Hobart Class DDG destroyers and their support systems to the Navy.
AWD Program Manager Commodore (CDRE) Craig Bourke remarked on the naming of the second Air Warfare Destroyer.
«Destroyer Brisbane, the third naval vessel to carry the name, acknowledges the significant contribution of naval personnel who previously served on HMAS Brisbane I and II, including those able to attend the launch today. Joining them are many current serving members of the Royal Australian Navy and crew members of the future destroyer Brisbane who are actively contributing to the delivery of this next-generation warship to the Department of Defence. Over the coming months, we will continue to progress work on Brisbane, proving her engines and gas turbines before the ship undertakes Builder’s Sea Trials at the end of 2017», CDRE Bourke said.
ASC Shipbuilding CEO Mark Lamarre said the launch of the destroyer was a special occasion for the ASC workforce, who through their years of dedication and effort had brought the ship to life, and in doing so proved the knowledge and skill of Australia’s shipbuilding industry.
«The launch of the second destroyer Brisbane further illustrates the highly skilled and professional naval shipbuilding capability here in Australia, with the AWD project laying the foundation for future shipbuilding work in South Australia», he said. Not only are we one step closer to the delivery of this exciting new capability to the Navy but we can take pride in the fact that Australia’s shipbuilding workforce will be able to apply key learnings from this project to future ones. It is entirely fitting that the AWD Alliance workforce is able to show off their remarkable achievements in building this impressive ship to their loved ones at the launch today», Mr. Lamarre said.
Raytheon Australia Managing Director Michael Ward welcomed the launch of Brisbane and commented on the significance of the Alliance mission system integration capability.
«As the combat systems integrator for the AWD project, Raytheon Australia has applied its highly skilled Australian workforce of 320 architects, systems engineers and project managers to the AWD project over the last decade. Raytheon Australia is responsible for the integration of ten major subsystems, including the Aegis Weapon System, which is provided through Foreign Military Sales, and associated delivery of more than 3,500 major pieces of combat system equipment required to establish the warfighting capability of the AWD. This will contribute to making the AWD the most lethal and sophisticated warship ever operated by the Royal Australian Navy. The AWD’s combat system integration activities represent some of the most advanced engineering and project management skills in this country. It is extremely satisfying that our strong investment in local capabilities has contributed so much to this launch milestone today. The success of the combat system integration activity is a source of tremendous pride for Raytheon Australia. Not only have we performed admirably on this project but we have built for Australia a national asset in combat system integration», Mr. Ward said.
The ADW project has made significant progress in 2016 with return of the program to schedule and budget, and the successful completion of Builder’s Sea Trials for the first destroyer, Hobart in September 2016.
2017 also is set to be an exciting and busy year for the program, with a number of significant events on the horizon including completion of Acceptance Sea Trials for Hobart, Builder’s Sea Trials for Brisbane and Hull Consolidation for the third Air Warfare Destroyer, Sydney.
The launch of Brisbane was further demonstration of significant progress on the Air Warfare Destroyer project
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)
