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| Navantia's F100: Base design for Australia's Hobart class AWD |
By NIGEL PITTAWAY
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA — The Australian government announced new steps to fix its ailing Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) effort on Dec. 9, with the appointment of BAE Systems, Navantia SA and Raytheon Australia to take on increased roles in the program.
In a joint press statement, Finance Minister Sen. Mathias Cormann and Defence Minister Sen. David Johnston said that for an interim period, the three companies will assist the Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance, a government-industry venture, with getting the AUS $8.5 billion (US $7.09 billion) project back on track.
However, the ministers noted that the program to build the three ships, based on Navantia’s F100 class vessel, had slipped by 30 months for the first two ships and three years for the third.
Under the original contract, the alliance, comprising Australia’s Defence Materiel Organisation, shipbuilders ASC and systems integrator Raytheon Australia, were due to deliver the first ship this month. The second and third ships were originally due to follow at 16-month intervals.
Hull blocks are being built around Australia and are consolidated at ASC’s facility in Adelaide.
Read the full story at DefenseNews