First phase of sea trials for HMAS Sydney Air Warfare Destroyer of Australian Navy.

The Australian Defence Force’s third Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD), HMAS Sydney (DDG 42), has commenced its first phase of sea trials which will test the ship’s hull, propulsion and navigation systems.

NUSHIP Sydney, Air Warfare Destroyer, departs Osborne Shipyards for the first time as it commences its Builder’s Sea Trials.(Picture source Australian Navy)

The initial trial phase will be followed by a more advanced phase of sea trials in October to test the ship’s combat and communications systems in preparation for delivery next year. Australian Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said industry played a fundamental role in the input into Defence capability. The HMAS Sydney is expected to be commissioned in March 2020.

The HMAS Sydney is the third and final ship of the 7,000-ton Hobart-class of guided-missile (air warfare) destroyers. The Hobart class is a ship class of three air warfare destroyers (AWDs) being built for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The "Air Warfare Destroyer" designation is used to describe ships dedicated to the defense of a naval force (plus assets ashore) from aircraft and missile attack, the planned Australian destroyers are expected to also operate in anti-surface, anti-submarine, and naval gunfire support roles.

The design of the Hobart-class guided-missile destroyer is based on the Navantia-designed Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate (aka F-100) currently in service with the Spanish Navy. It has a length overall of 147.2 meters, a maximum beam of 18.6 meters, and a draught of 5.17 meters. At launch, the ships will have a full-load displacement of 6,250 tonnes (6,150 long tons; 6,890 short tons). The Hobart Class has been designed to allow for upgrades and installation of new equipment, with a theoretical maximum displacement of 7,000 tonnes (6,900 long tons; 7,700 short tons).

Hobart-class guided-missile destroyer main armament consists of a 48-cell Mark 41 Vertical Launch System. The cells are capable of firing the RIM-66 Standard 2 anti-aircraft missile or the quad-packed RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow point-defence missile

The missiles are supplemented by two four-canister launchers for Harpoon anti-ship missiles and a BAE Systems Mark 45 (Mod 4) 5-inch gun with a 62-caliber barrel. The 5-inch gun has a maximum range of 23.6 kilometers. The ship is also equipped with Two Babcock Mark 32 Mod 9 two-tube torpedo launchers able to fire Eurotorp MU90 torpedoes at submarines. For close-in defense, the ship is also armed with Phalanx CIWS system, plus two M242 Bushmasters in Typhoon mounts sited on the bridge wings.

The Hobart-class guided-missile destroyer has a crew of 186 people, plus 16 additional personnel to operate and maintain the ship's helicopter. Additional accommodation increases the maximum potential complement to 31 officers and 203 sailors.