Breaking news
Future Royal Australian Navy Air Warfare Destroyer HMAS Hobart Started Sea Trials.
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 Hobart,
the first of three air warfare destroyers, seen here sailing out of ASC
shipyard at Osborne for the first time. Picture: Royal Australian Navy |
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Hobart
is conducting Builder’s Sea Trials off the coast of South Australia
over several days in September. Throughout this period the ship will be
operated under the command of a civilian Master and crew, augmented by
specialists from the Alliance and key equipment suppliers who will perform
the system testing and trials. Before the ship is put to sea, the AWD
Alliance will conduct a comprehensive assessment to ensure the safety
of the ship, embarked personnel, the environment and other seafarers.
This assessment is defined as the Alliance Sea Trials Release Process
and has three major steps; the Sea Worthiness Assessment, Ship Sea Trials
Release and Sea Readiness Confirmation. |
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 Hobart,
the first of three air warfare destroyers, seen here sailing out of ASC
shipyard at Osborne for the first time. Picture: Royal Australian Navy |
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During
Builder’s Sea Trials, whilst the ship is at sea, a dedicated shore
support team will remain in constant communications with the Ship’s
Master to assist the ship and ensure the success of the trials. In the
lead up to Builder Sea Trials the AWD Alliance continues to complete a
number of important alongside dock trials - testing the ships systems
before it departs to sea for the first time. Tests include Inclining Trials,
measuring the ship’s stability and vertical centre of gravity, and
Bollard Trials, testing the ship’s propulsion system. About the Hobart class (AWD): The AWDs are being built for Australia’s specific defence needs and will provide a significant increase in Australia’s defence capabilities. The AWDs will provide greater protection for ADF personnel by providing air defence for accompanying ships as well as land forces and infrastructure on nearby coastal areas. The AWDs will also provide self-protection against attacking missiles and aircraft. The Aegis Weapon System incorporating the state-of-the-art phased array radar, AN/ SPY 1D(V), in combination with the SM-2 missile, will provide an advanced air defence system capable of engaging enemy aircraft and missiles at ranges in excess of 150 kilometres. The AWDs will also carry a MH-60R Seahawk ‘Romeo’ naval combat helicopter for surveillance and response to support key warfare areas. The surface warfare function will include long range anti-ship missiles and a naval gun capable of firing extended range munitions in support of land forces. The AWDs will also be able to conduct Undersea Warfare and will be equipped with modern sonar systems, decoys and surface-launched torpedoes. Coupled with an array of close-in defensive weapons, all of these capabilities ensure the AWDs have the layered defensive and offensive resources required to win the battle against 21st century conventional and asymmetric threats. |
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