Page 8 - Australian Defence Magazine March 2019

NEWS REVIEW
INDUSTRY UPDATE
Greece shows interest in buying RAN FFGs
EWEN LEVICK | SYDNEY
ATHENS has sent an expression of interest to Defence to buy the RAN’s two remaining Adelaide-class FFG frigates, HMA Ships Mel- bourne and Newcastle, ADM can confirm.
Greek Minister for Defence Evangelos Apostolakis referenced the move during a press conference attended by local media in late December.
Minister Apostolakis said the Adelaide- class, a modified version of the US Oliver Hazard Perry class, is one of three options under consideration as an interim capabil- ity for the Hellenic Navy. Other possibili- ties include American LCS frigates or the French La Fayette class.
“Defence has received expressions of in- terest from the Hellenic Navy, as well as other countries in relation to the Adelaide class frigates,” a Defence spokesperson said to ADM.
Greece is currently looking to expand its naval presence in the eastern Mediterranean as tensions with Turkey grow over regional natural gas exploration. Cyprus has granted drilling rights to a number of foreign compa- nies, with ExxonMobil expected to shortly begin drilling in Cyprus’ Exclusive Econom- ic Zone – a move Turkey has warned against.
Local F-35s begin flying operations
Ankara has previously used warships to prevent Italian company ENI from drilling at a site not far from Exxon’s license.
A report by Ptsisi Magazine indicates that Greece also intends to use the ships to leverage its position as a ‘bridge of coopera- tion’ between the US and Egypt.
The attractiveness of the Adelaide-class largely rests on upgrades received under the Sea 1390 program, which added medium range surface-to-air Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSMs), SM-2 Block IIIA long- range air defence missiles and associated sensor and combat system enhancements. The ships are the first Australian vessels powered by gas turbines and can move from cold in less than 30 minutes.
Sources indicate that Greece may seek an end-to-end user certificate from the US to acquire the SM2s and ESSM missiles with the Australian ships. ADM understands,
AUSTRALIA’S first two in-country F-35As have started flying operations out of RAAF Williamtown as preparation for Initial Op- erational Capability (IOC) ramps up.
Commander of Air Combat Group Air Commodore Michael Kitcher said the two aircraft are beginning a phase of operations designed to verify and validate the jet’s ca- pabilities in the lead-up to the declaration of IOC at the end of 2020.
“At the end of 2019, Air Combat Group expects to have taken delivery of up to eight aircraft,’’ AIRCDRE Kitcher said. “In De- cember 2020, Australia will have up to 33 aircraft, established a sovereign training ca- pability and completed verification and val- idation of the Australian F-35A capability.
“By the end of 2020 one operational squad-
however, that RAN is unlikely to include weapons with a potential sale. ADM also understands that the Minister’s remarks have preceded a possible visit to Australia by Greek representatives.
“Defence treats all expressions of in- terest on disposals as ‘in-confidence’ un- less otherwise agreed with the relevant country, and does not comment on the details of subsequent discussions or nego- tiations,” the Defence spokesperson said. “Any decision regarding the purchase of Adelaide class frigates from Australia is a matter for the relevant foreign govern- ment. Once withdrawn from service, De- fence has no plans to retain the Adelaide class frigates.”
Poland officially expressed interest in buying the last Adelaide-class vessels in 2017 but negotiations have reportedly since fallen through.
ron will be proficient in air combat, strike and offensive air support, and ready to deploy in support of Australia’s national interests.”
The IOC process is designed to test how the weapons system interfaces with local ICT systems and infrastructure such as that newly-completed at Williamtown and also underway at RAAF Tindal.
The aircraft are also the first to be hosted on the sovereign Australian version of the F-35A’s Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS). This will also be compre- hensively tested over the next two years.
ALIS development/testing/delivery is be- ing led by the US to track and supply spares as needed in conjunction with regional ware- housing. Australia is home to a regional ware- house, which will be operated by BAE Systems.
8 | March 2019 | www.australiandefence.com.au
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