The Hobart-class air warfare destroyers (AWD) are being built by AWD Alliance for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The air warfare destroyer programme, known as SEA 4000, will deliver three advanced multirole warships to replace the FFGs of the RAN.
The first three AWDs are named HMAS Hobart, HMAS Brisbane and HMAS Sydney. The first AWD was launched in May 2015 and commissioned into the RAN in September 2017.
The keel of HMS Brisbane was laid down in February 2014, while its launching ceremony was held in December 2016. The ship was delivered to the navy in August 2018 and inducted into the RAN two months later. The keel-laying ceremony for the third ship, HMAS Sydney, was held in November 2015 and the destroyer was launched in May 2018.
The $8bn AWD project is the largest defence procurement project ever undertaken in Australia. It is expected to create 3,000 jobs in Australia and benefit thousands of companies based in the country.
Air warfare destroyer programme
The Hobart Class AWD programme is intended to deliver an affordable, effective, flexible and sustainable air warfare destroyer platform to the RAN. The requirement for modern warships was established by the Kinnaird Review in 2003. Gibbs & Cox and Navantia submitted warship designs to the Commonwealth Government.
The Australian Government selected ASC as the shipbuilder for the programme in May 2005. In June 2007, the existing design of Navantia was selected as a platform for the AWD programme. ASC entered an alliance-based contract with the Defence Materiel Organisation and Raytheon Australia. The project has passed the critical design review in January 2010.
Hobart-class AWD design
The AWD platform is based on the Navantia-designed F100 frigate, which is in service with the Spanish Navy. The baseline design has been slightly modified for Australian applications, including the displacement of the AWD being increased to 7,000t, and the hangar modified to accommodate a range of helicopters.
The range now includes powerful diesel engines combined with improved fuel tank arrangements. The design also incorporates a bow thruster to provide enhanced manoeuvrability.
AWD construction
The AWD Alliance subcontracted the FORGACS group and NQEA Australia as the preferred suppliers to build 70% of the blocks. In June 2009, the work allotted to the NQEA was transferred to BAE Systems Australia due to financial obligations.
The ships are being built using a modular construction method. The hull blocks of three destroyers are being constructed at three shipyards, including ASC in Osborne, BAE Systems in Melbourne and Forgacs in Newcastle. The assembling, outfitting, equipment and systems installation, as well as trial activities, will be carried out at the newly opened ASC Osborne shipyard.
A total of 31 blocks are being constructed for each ship, of which 70% are built by BAE Systems and Forgacs, and the remaining by ASC. ASC’s facility located north-west of Adelaide’s CBD will fabricate nine blocks for each ship. Work is currently underway on six blocks including decking and superstructure components.
Seven of the 12 main keel blocks are fabricated for each ship at Melbourne and Victoria facilities of BAE Systems. Forgacs fabricates ten blocks for each ship in Newcastle. Accommodation modules for all the ships are being built by Taylor Brothers in Hobart.
In June 2010, AWD Alliance signed a $25m contract with Toll North to transport 66 hull blocks from Newcastle and Melbourne to Osborne Shipyard for assembly. BlueScope Steel has been contracted to supply 3,000t of steel required for the ship construction.
Hobart-class AWD missions
The Hobart-class AWDs provide air defence for vessels, land-based forces and infrastructure in coastal lines. It will also defend and destroy missiles and aircraft within a range of 150km. The destroyers can also be deployed in law enforcement operations, defence aid to the civil community, the collection of environmental data, rescue operations and diplomatic roles.
The Hobart-class is equipped with advanced sonar systems, decoys and surface-launched torpedoes for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations.
Hobart–class AWD weapon systems
The Hobart-class AWDs are the first RAN warships to be equipped with the Aegis combat system. Aegis includes an SPY-1D (V) radar, Mk 41 vertical launch system (VLS), SM-2 standard missile and an open architecture (OA) combat system.
The AWD is armed with the SM-6 long-range anti-aircraft missile, the Harpoon anti-ship missile system and Mk32 Mod9 surface vessel torpedo tubes (SVTT) for MU90 torpedoes.
The AWD is fitted with a BAE Systems Mk 45 5in 62 calibre gun and a Phalanx Block 1B close-in weapons system (CIWS).
AWD helicopter system
The Hobart-class features a flight deck and a hangar to enable helicopter and UAV operations. The existing hangar design will be modified to carry a wide range of helicopters.
Hobart-class countermeasures
The destroyer is equipped with an ES-3701 tactical radar electronic support measures (ESM) and surveillance system. In December 2008, the AWD Alliance awarded a contract for the supply of a decoy launching system to Terma. Four deck-mounted MK-137 130mm decoy launchers can fire decoys to deceive incoming anti-ship missiles. Other countermeasures include Nulka active missile decoy launchers and ASW torpedo decoys.
AWD sensors
The AWD’s sensor suite includes AN/SPY-1D (V) phased array radar, a horizon search radar, a SAM Electronics X-band navigation radar, an integrated hull-mounted and towed array sonar system, and a VAMPIR infrared search-and-track (IRST) system.
Hobart–class propulsion
The AWD is equipped with a combined diesel and gas (CODAG) propulsion system with two GE LM 2500 gas turbines and two diesel engines. It is also fitted with a bow thruster for improved manoeuvrability.
Specifications
| Type: | Guided missile destroyer |
| Displacement: | 7,000 tonnes (6,900 long tons; 7,700 short tons) full load |
| Length: | 147.2 metres (483 ft) |
| Beam: | 18.6 metres (61 ft) maximum |
| Draught: | 5.17 metres (17.0 ft) |
| Propulsion: | – Combined diesel or gas (CODOG) arrangement – 2 × General Electric Marine model 7LM2500-SA-MLG38 gas turbines, 17,500 kilowatts (23,500 hp) each – 2 × Caterpillar Bravo 16 V Bravo diesel engines, 5,650 kilowatts (7,580 hp) each – 2 × controllable pitch propellers |
| Speed: | Over 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph) |
| Range: | Over 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) |
| Complement: | – 186 + 16 aircrew – Accommodation for 234 |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
– Aegis combat system – Lockheed Martin AN/SPY-1D(V) S-band radar – Northrop Grumman AN/SPQ-9B X-band pulse Doppler horizon search radar – Raytheon Mark 99 fire-control system with two continuous wave illuminating radars – 2 × L-3 Communications SAM Electronics X-band navigation radars – Ultra Electronics Sonar Systems, hull mounted sonar and towed sonar – Ultra Electronics Series 2500 electro-optical director – Sagem VAMPIR IR search and track system – Rafael Toplite stabilised target acquisition sights |
| Electronic warfare & decoys: |
– ITT EDO Reconnaissance and Surveillance Systems ES-3701 ESM radar – SwRI MBS-567A communications ESM system – Ultra Electronics Avalon Systems multipurpose digital receiver – Jenkins Engineering Defence Systems low-band receiver – 4 × Nulka decoy launchers – 4 × 6-tube multipurpose decoy launchers |
| Armament: | – 48-cell Mark 41 Vertical Launch System – RIM-66 Standard 2 missile – RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow missile – 2 × 4-canister Harpoon missile launchers – 1 × Mark 45 (Mod 4) 5-inch gun – 2 × Mark 32 Mod 9 two-tube torpedo launchers – Eurotorp MU90 torpedoes – 1 × Phalanx CIWS -2 × 25mm M242 Bushmaster autocannons in Typhoon mounts |
| Aircraft carried: | 1 x MH-60R Seahawk |
Operators
- Australian Navy – 3 Hobart Class Destroyer
