Milestone for Australian Air Warfare destroyer

AWD Alliance celebrates the opening of the RAN’s Navy Training Systems Centre whilst the first destroyer, Hobart, progresses towards sea trials for the combat system

This week marks further progress for the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) project, as the Royal Australian Navy officially opened its Navy Training Systems Centre at Randwick Barracks in New South Wales on 8 April.

The purpose-built facility will provide the location for the RAN to deliver training for both the AWD and Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) capabilities, demonstrating one of the many facility requirements that the AWD Alliance has delivered as part of the project to date.

This milestone comes as the first Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Hobart advances further towards sea trials with the activation of a number of significant combat systems.

The AWD Alliance team, comprised of Raytheon Australia, ASC and the Department of Defence, has invested over the last decade in developing the people, processes, tools and supplier relationships required to integrate and activate such highly technical and complex systems.

In its role as the Combat Systems Integrator, Raytheon Australia is responsible for the design, integration, testing and activation of the Hobart Class Combat System for all three destroyers, as well as delivery of the associated land-based support facilities. This involves the integration of 10 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 for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

AWD Program Manager Commodore Craig Bourke, CSC, RAN, said that the collegiate approach for developing the Hobart Class Combat System Solution, led by Raytheon Australia has achieved the expected ‘best-for-program outcomes’ working with the US Navy and a range of Original Equipment Manufacturers, such as Ultra and Lockheed Martin.

“The Combat System architectural principles applied by Raytheon Australia have given the Commonwealth an overall system of systems solution with effective balance between a system with a strong parent Navy pedigree and the Australian indigenous capability to select, manage and tailor sub-systems, weapons and effectors to best meet the capability needs of the Royal Australian Navy along with inherent through life support benefits,” Commodore Bourke said.

AWD Alliance General Manager Lloyd Beckett also reinforced the importance of this activity as a demonstration of the complex work being undertaken by the Alliance. “The activation of the combat system is an exciting time for a first-of-class ship such as Hobart. It is a further demonstration of the demanding work that we are executing on this project, and proof of our ability to manage the risks associated with highly complex integration activities. I am immensely proud of what the AWD Alliance is achieving together as one team,” said Lloyd.

The three destroyers will represent one of the world’s most advanced multi-purpose warships, providing the RAN with a cross-spectrum capability, from joint maritime operations and area air defence to escort duties and diplomatic missions.

Project Update

-Hobart is 92% complete and on track to commence sea trials later this year, with a number of key combat systems activated including the Vertical Launch System, the Australian Tactical Interface, the Aegis Software Operating Environment and the  SPY1D-V phased array radar, along with various navigation and platform systems. In the coming weeks, Hobart will complete the activation of its main engines, in preparation for sea trials later this year.

-Brisbane is 75% complete as it prepares for launch in the coming year.
-Sydney is 49% complete, with the final block delivery to occur in May 2016.
-Both Brisbane and Sydney have benefitted from the lessons being applied from Hobart, with significant efficiency gains being measured from the first ship to the third ship. ASC and Navantia have worked closely together with the broader Alliance team over the last few months to realise these gains.
-Overall, more than 85% of the project’s combat system scope of work has been completed.
-The AWD Alliance successfully completed its final Training Readiness Review with the RAN, signifying agreement from the Navy that the program is ready to commence crew training for the AWD capability.