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| Future HMAS Hobart after Launch |
The AWD Alliance has had busy third and fourth quarters progressing delivery of three Hobart class AWDs, with the project currently focused on the launch of Ship 2, Brisbane, in December 2016 and the commencement of Acceptance Sea Trials for Ship 1, Hobart, in early 2017.
Ship Milestones
Ship 1
- Hobart is 97% complete (whole of ship as at October 2016), and recently achieved a major milestone with the successful completion of Builders Sea Trials in September.
- Hobart is on track to undertake Acceptance Sea Trials during the first quarter of 2017.
- Prior to the recent Builders Sea Trials, Hobart’s Main Engines and Gas Turbines were activated on-board in April and July respectively as well as a number of key combat systems including the Vertical Launch System, the Australian Tactical Interface, the Aegis Combat System and the SPY1D-V Phased Array Radar, plus various navigation and communication systems.
Ship 2
- Brisbane is 85% complete (whole of ship as at October 2016), and is preparing to achieve the significant milestone of launch in December this year, when the ship is officially named and floats for the first time.
- Over the past few months, load out of combat spaces such as Command Information Centre, Combat System Equipment Rooms, Direct Support Element Operations, and Communication spaces has occurred in addition to the successful installation of the last of the ship’s four AN/SPY-1D(V) Phased Array Radars, bringing the load out of combat system equipment on Brisbane to over 75%. This is well beyond the level of load-out achieved on Ship 1 prior to its launch.
- Shore power through the ship’s switchboard was recently achieved, in which power was applied to the ship for the first time to both forward and aft main switchboards. Brisbane’s Main Cable Pull was also been achieved in October.
- Combat System topside equipment load outs as well as prerequisite work including commencement of the ship’s Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) and underwater hull paint will occur between now and the ship’s launch in December.
Ship 3
- Sydney is 58% complete (whole of ship as at October 2016).
- All blocks that make up Ship 3, have now been delivered to Techport with consolidation of these blocks well underway.
- As a consequence of lessons learnt from Ship 1, high levels of combat system outfitting have been achieved on the mast ahead of its incorporation on to the platform.
- The main engines and gas turbines have also been loaded into the ship.
Lessons Learnt
- Ships 2 and 3 are benefitting from lessons learnt from Ship 1 with significant efficiency gains being measured from the first ship to the second and third ships, for example:
- The Ship 2 team halved the amount of time taken to load-out the final AN/SPY-1D(V) Phased Array Radar. The first SPY Array installation on Ship 1, some 18 month ago, took 12 hours, while the last one was completed in August in less than six.
- Alliance team members who were involved in activities, such as the Main Cable Pull, on Hobart are being used to implement this activity on Brisbane to ensure that the lessons learnt are being passed on.
Combat Systems
- The AWD Alliance Combat System team has completed approximately 90% of their scope. 91% of the combat system interfaces are now integrated on board the ship.
- August marked the successful completion of the Integrated Sonar System operational sonar software factory acceptance test.
- In early September the AWD Combat System Team successfully completed the Combat System CAT 4 Test Readiness Review (TRR), clearing the way to proceed with progressive CAT 4 testing over the next 3 months.
General News
- AWD program has successfully implemented a re-baselined cost and schedule as part of the Commonwealth’s long term arrangements for AWD reform.
- Work on the Techport wharf extension commenced in August and will continue through to November to enable two AWD’s to berth alongside following the float off of Brisbane later this year.
- The Alliance Support team recently conducted pre-pilot training activities, to test all elements of the AWD training program for the Royal Australian Navy.