Tag: AWD

Final Air Warfare Destroyer completes sea trials

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November 9, 2019 – The Australian Defence Force’s third Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD), NUSHIP Sydney, is on track to be delivered to the Navy in February 2020 after completing sea trials. Sydney is the third and final ship being delivered by the Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance which includes the Department of Defence, Raytheon Australia, and ASC Shipbuilding supported by Navantia Australia. Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said the success of Sydney’s sea trials represents a significant step towards its delivery. “Today’s milestone is another example of…

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HMAS Brisbane ready for Combat System Trials

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October 12, 2019 – On the eve of her Combat System Trials, the crew of HMAS Brisbane have used the passage and time alongside San Diego to fully prepare for this important milestone, which are the culmination of a concentrated combat system preparation and training period which has been running for nearly twelve months. In the months prior to deploying, Brisbane embarked a team from the United States who have worked alongside the ship’s company to optimise the combat system and conduct operator training. During the transit, Brisbane has also…

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Sydney Sea Trials Make a DDG Trifecta

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September 27, 2019 – As NUSHIP Sydney cast off for her final period of Builders Sea Trials this week, it marked the first time that all three Hobart Class Destroyers have been at sea or deployed at the same time. This is a significant milestone for the Royal Australian Navy and the Air Warfare Destroyer program. Spread across two weeks in the St Vincent Gulf, South Australia, Sydney’s trials involved a comprehensive suite of tests designed to push the limit of the newly built platform. While Sydney was being put…

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Sydney Goes to Sea

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September 17, 2019 – The Navy’s latest and most exciting addition to the Fleet has set sail for the first time and is currently conducting Builder’s Sea Trials in South Australia. This marks the first major step for NUSHIP Sydney and its crew in becoming a highly effective warfighting unit, capable of the full spectrum of naval operations. Thanks to lessons learned from sister ships Hobart (III) and Brisbane (III), as well as the completion of the AIR 9000 upgrade enabling operational use of the MH-60R helicopter and the addition…

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The Green Ghost and Cobra 16 Combine

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August 2, 2019 – Two of Navy’s newest cutting-edge platforms have combined, with the air warfare destroyer HMAS Hobart embarking an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter and standing up an aviation department for the first time for first-of-class flight trials. Hobart – nicknamed the ‘Green Ghost’ – has been carrying out trials with the aircraft from 816 Squadron – dubbed ‘COBRA 16’ – off the coast of New South Wales, establishing operating limits and testing recent upgrades to the ship under the AIR9000 project. Personnel from Navy’s Aircraft Maintenance and Flight Trials…

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Lockheed Martin Australia Announces Successful Aegis Combat System ‘Light Off’ For Australia

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June 6, 2019 – Defence technology and innovation company, Lockheed Martin Australia in support of the Royal Australian Navy, is today announcing the successful ‘light off’ of the Aegis Combat System on HMAS Hobart, following her first docking at Garden Island, Sydney. The Aegis system ‘light off’ marks the transition from the production period of the Post Delivery Upgrade (PDU) to combat system testing and training for HMAS Hobart. These comprehensive tests will ensure the combat system equipment is operational and the crew are ready to commence their next mission.…

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US Navy says RAN’s new Destroyers strengthen a close friendship

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November 5, 2018 – The United States Chief of Naval Operations has ended his visit to Australia, praising the Royal Australian Navy for its regional leadership and complimenting Navy for its game-changing new capabilities. US Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Admiral John Richardson, was in Canberra earlier this month for a day of high level talks on maritime security issues. Hosted by the RAN’s Chief of Navy, VADM Mike Noonan, CNO met with a range of senior leaders, including Chief of Defence Force, the Secretary of Defence and the Secretary…

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HMAS Brisbane Commissioned

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October 27, 2018 – The Royal Australian Navy welcomed a new ship into the fleet today, with the commissioning of the guided missile destroyer, HMAS Brisbane (III). In the ceremony at the Garden Island Naval Base in Sydney, the Brisbane officially became one of Her Majesty’s Australian Ships. Before an audience of dignitaries, family and friends, the Commander of the Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Jonathan Mead, AM, RAN, welcomed Brisbane to the fleet. During the ceremony the Governor-General of Australia, inspected the Brisbane’s crew and HMAS Brisbane received a blessing.…

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HMAS Hobart Celebrates First Birthday

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October 3, 2018 – The ship’s company of the Royal Australian Navy’s first Aegis Guided Missile Destroyer, HMAS Hobart, have celebrated their first birthday while enroute to the west coast of the USA. Commanding Officer, Captain John Stavridis, along with the crew’s youngest member, Seaman Thomas Norris-Elliott and the crew’s most experienced member, Chief Petty Officer Ric Macchetta, cut the cake during a morning muster to mark this special occasion. The Ghost Riders took a moment to enjoy the scenery and a piece of cake on the flight deck. Built…

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NUSHIP Brisbane completes CAT 5 trials and cooks up a storm

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NUSHIP Brisbane has recently completed her Category 5 (CAT 5) Sea Trials off the coast of Adelaide. During CAT 5 Sea Trials, the functional performance of the Mission System as a whole is verified. This verification is a pre-requisite to enable the Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance to deliver Brisbane to the Department of Defence for provisional acceptance. During this phase of trials, testing of key components of both the platform and combat systems occurred. Achieving this key milestone represents an important step closer to becoming the RAN’s newest DDG. During…

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AWD Intellectual Property

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The intellectual property for the Hobart Class family of warships has transferred to Navantia Australia, which ensures Australia now has sovereign control over our Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) capability. Minister Pyne welcomed the transfer, which coincided with the successful launch and formal naming of the third and final AWD, Sydney. “Sydney’s float off reflects a remarkable 60 per cent productivity improvement over the first ship,” Minister Pyne said. “This is in no small way due to the highly skilled workers from ASC, Raytheon Australia, Navantia Australia and Defence.” “More than…

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Capability on display for launch of NUSHIP Sydney

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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 NUSHIP Sydney 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 US Aegis weapon system, which significantly enhances Navy warfighting capability and allows them to work more closely with…

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HMAS Hobart visits namesake city for the first time

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The Royal Australian Navy’s newest warship, HMAS Hobart, has arrived in its namesake city for the first time. This port visit is the first time in 18 years a ship carrying the name Hobart has visited the City of Hobart and will see the guided missile destroyer feature as the flagship in the Royal Hobart Regatta. Commanding Officer HMAS Hobart, Captain John Stavridis, said the ship’s company are excited to strengthen the ties Navy already has with Hobart and Tasmania. “Hobart has always been a friend of Navy and we…

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Air Warfare Destroyer project removed from Projects of Concern list

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The Air Warfare Destroyer project has been removed from the Projects of Concern list following continuing improvements in shipbuilding performance. This major milestone is a result of the implementation of the Turnbull Government’s reform program. Following an independent review by Professor Don Winter and Dr John White and a review by the Australian National Audit Office, the project was placed on the Projects of Concern list in June 2014 due to increasing commercial, schedule and cost risks. The Air Warfare Destroyer Reform Program resulted in Navantia being contracted in December…

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Government secures 200 new jobs at Osborne, totalling 1200 this year

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The Turnbull Government has given workers at Osborne an early Christmas present. The Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP and the Minister for Finance, Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann today announced a workforce package that will bolster jobs and skilling for Australia’s current and future naval shipbuilders. “Australia’s future shipbuilding and sustainment workforce is at the very heart of success for Australia’s naval shipbuilding enterprise,” Minister Pyne said. “Over the next 10 years, the size and skill level of the naval shipbuilding workforce will need to increase…

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