Last week (November 19) marks significant progress on the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) program, as the keel was laid for the third destroyer, Sydney, and initial combat systems activation has commenced on the first destroyer, Hobart. Sydney is the last of three AWDs currently under construction on this program, which will deliver the most capable warships ever possessed by the Royal Australian Navy.
AWD Alliance CEO, Rod Equid, said that the keel-laying for the third ship is the latest in a series of important achievements across the project, with the start of the hull consolidation phase for Sydney, as well as the progression to the system activation phase for Hobart in advance of sea trials next year. Mr. Equid said the second destroyer, Brisbane, is also on track towards meeting the completion of hull consolidation next month.
«We are proud of this further progress. Production is now more than 70% complete across the project and significant productivity improvements are being realised from ship to ship. We have come a long way since our first keel-laying ceremony was held three years ago. We recognise the importance of the work being done on the third ship, as this is where we will achieve the highest levels of productivity, based on the lessons from Sydney’s sister ships», said Mr. Equid.
AWD Program Manager Peter Croser commended the work accomplished by the AWD Alliance over the course of the last year. «We have achieved a number of critical milestones this year, from launching our first ship Hobart in May, to achieving 70 per cent completion on our second ship, Brisbane, and now commencing the hull consolidation phase for our third ship, Sydney», said Mr. Croser.
The AWD Alliance is responsible for delivering three Hobart Class DDG destroyers and their support systems to the Navy. The Alliance is made up of shipbuilder ASC, mission systems integrator Raytheon Australia and the Government’s Department of Defence.
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) |
This computer-generated animation highlights the multi-mission capability of the three naval destroyers being built as part of the Air Warfare Destroyer Project