The first of three next-generation warships from the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Alliance has successfully completed sea trials off the coast of South Australia. The trials included testing the ship’s hull, propulsion and navigation systems.
HMAS Hobart was built at Techport, Australia’s premier naval industry hub in Adelaide, South Australia, which is also expected to be where 12 Shortfin Barracuda submarines will be built by French shipbuilder DCNS for the Royal Australian Navy.
AWD Alliance General Manager Lloyd Beckett said the second phase of advanced trials would take place early next year when the combat and communication systems of Hobart were ready for testing.
“It’s the culmination of years of design and procurement, construction and outfitting, system testing, training and equipment activation,” he said.
“It gives me an enormous sense of pride in seeing our hard work culminate in a successful trial period at sea.”
Hobart is more than 140m long, has a top speed of more than 28 knots, a range of about 5000 nautical miles and room for more than 200 crew members.
She carries a range of weapons, detection and electronic warfare systems onboard, which include an Aegis threat tracking system, SPQ Horizon Search Radar, 48 vertical launch missile cells, a five-inch gun for coastal operations and two quad launchers of anti-ship HARPOON weapon systems.
The AWDs will also be equipped with anti-surface, anti-submarine, and naval gunfire capabilities.
Hobart has surface launched torpedoes, a Phalanx short-range air and surface defence system, NULKA missile decoy system, front-mounted as well as towable sonar systems and a flight-deck suitable for a helicopter similar to an MH-60R Seahawk.
