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| Hobart in foreground with Brisbane in left background |
The AWD Alliance has made considerable progress in the first half of this year, launching the first destroyer Hobart in May at a rate of 75 per cent complete.
With Hobart now in the water at 88 per cent complete, the work on this destroyer is now focused on ship completion and system commissioning, with combat system light off activities commencing later this year, followed by sea trials with the Royal Australian Navy.
The AWD program has benefited from the commencement of the Government initiated AWD Reform Strategy. A group of experienced shipbuilding personnel from Australia and overseas have been working within the AWD Alliance teams to provide mentorship and advice.
The AWD Alliance is focused on moving Hobart into this next phase, while also applying lessons learned from Hobart to the second and third destroyers.
The second destroyer Brisbane is in an advanced state of consolidation and fit-out. All of the blocks for Brisbane have now been delivered to Techport, with block construction tracking at 100 per cent complete and ship construction tracking at 68 per cent complete. The ship is currently undergoing final hull consolidation on the hardstand, with 27 of the 32 blocks already consolidated.
Block construction for the third destroyer, Sydney continues at a rate of 41 per cent complete. All blocks are currently under construction and preparations underway to lay the keel in November 2015.
Techport Australia remains the hub for the consolidation and integration activities for all three destroyers. Also at Techport, the AWD Alliance has commenced training using the Integrated Platform Management System training simulator in the Maritime Skills Centre.