Page 102 - Australian Defence Magazine Dec-Jan 2023

102 MAJOR PROJECTS REVIEW
DECEMBER 2022-JANUARY 2023 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
The Australian system includes a new fire distribution centre manufactured by Kongsberg Australia, and new ac- tive electronically scanned array radars manufactured and integrated by Canberra’s CEA Technologies. Radars and launchers will be mounted on Hawkei protected mobility vehicles and HX-40M 4x4 and HX77 8x8 tactical trucks.
IOC for the enhanced system is forecast for the second quarter of 2023 and Final Operating Capability (FOC) is anticipated in 2025.
MARITIME PROJECTS
Future frigate design and productionisation activities under Sea 5000 Phase 1 will continue during 2022-23. These will include supply of long lead items, and progressing towards a whole of ship preliminary design review that is forecast to begin in Quarter 3, 2023. In essence this is a technical as- sessment that ensures the design remains compliant and is
construction of the first-of-class (HMAS Arufura) began at Osborne and was subsequently impacted by pandemic and design issues. Work on the second OPV (HMAS Eyre) began in June 2019 and launch is planned for the first quarter of 2023. Although the delivery date has not been disclosed, the hiatus between the launch and delivery of HMAS Arufura suggests the RAN should receive HMAS Eyre around mid-2024.
The remaining 10 vessels will be constructed at the Henderson Maritime Precinct in Western Australia, with the build of four ships (HMA Ships Pilbara, Gippsland, Illawarra and Carpentaria) already underway. Questions about the future of the class in its current lightly-armed configuration await release of the DSR.
Planning continues under Project Sea 4000 Phase 6 to up- grade the Aegis combat systems of the three Hobart-class air warfare destroyers to Baseline 9 configuration. This will add a number of operational enhancements including a Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) capability should it be required. The project achieved Interim First Pass approval in mid-2021 and the upgrades are expected to begin in mid-2024.
According to the Top 30 capability sustainment activi- ties listed in the October portfolio budget statement, Sea 4000 Phase 6 work also involves, “direction to integrate the Tomahawk missile into the (Hobart) class”, although no schedule is included.
Not in the March budget papers but included in the Oc- tober portfolio statement is $155 million to acquire an Un- dersea Support Vessel of unspecified size for Navy support trials and integration of undersea warfare and surveillance systems. The vessel will also require the ability to host a variety of small teams and on-board and off-board systems, both optionally crewed and uncrewed remote and autono- mous systems.
Given approved project expenditure of $155 million is the same amount as approved for 2022-23, an announce- ment on the acquisition of a suitable foreign-sourced vessel must surely be pending. ■
“CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST OF THE NINE-SHIP HUNTER- CLASS WILL BEGIN IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2024 WITH HANDOVER TO THE RAN SCHEDULED FOR 2031”
operationally effective, before detailed design and planning can commence.
No schedule has yet been released for the subsequent Critical Design Review (CDR), which will further assess the design when it has reached a greater level of integration and typically will include an ele- ment of production readiness.
Construction of the first of the nine-ship Hunter-class will begin in the second quar- ter of 2024 with handover to the RAN scheduled for 2031. Given the high quality of prototyping and design work to date, both shipbuilder BAE Systems Maritime Australia and Commonwealth representatives have expressed guard-
ed optimism that delivery could be slightly accelerated. The second quarter of 2023 will see delivery to the RAN of the first of 12 1,640 tonne Arufura-class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) – nearly four and a half years after
RIGHT: Planning continues to upgrade the Aegis combat systems of the three Hobart-class air warfare destroyers to Baseline 9 configuration
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