Australian Navy’s frigate upgrade program continues to deliver.

The Royal Australian Navy’s frigate HMAS Anzac has joined HMAS Arunta as the second of the fleet’s Anzac Class frigates to undergo the Anzac Midlife Capability Assurance Program (AMCAP) upgrade.
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Aerial photograph of HMAS Arunta coming alongside to berth next to HMAS Anzac, right, at Fleet Base West, WA (Picture source: Australian Ministry of Defense)

The ships are the first two to be upgraded under the program which involves significant work undertaken on the platform, communications and sensor systems.

The upgrade program is being undertaken by Navy and the Warship Asset Management Agreement which is a four-way alliance between the Commonwealth’s Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group, Saab Australia, BAE Systems and Naval Ship Management Australia.

Recently, Anzac sailed to her homeport of Fleet Base West, Garden Island, Western Australia, where she was joined by her sister ship Arunta who completed the program, known as AMCAP, in 2019.

The third ship to undergo AMCAP is HMAS Warramunga, which is currently docked at Henderson Shipyard.

Aerial photograph of HMAS Arunta coming alongside to berth next to HMAS Anzac, right, at Fleet Base West, WA (Picture source: Australian Ministry of Defense)

About the AMCAP upgrade:

This project showcases Australian design and integration capability with the new Phased Array Radar technology designed by CEA Technologies in Canberra in conjunction with upgrades to combat systems performed by Saab Systems in South Australia and platform integration design by BAE Systems in Victoria.

AMCAP consists of those three major elements, the most striking is the new air search radar that visually differentiates a post-AMCAP ship from its pre-upgrade counterparts.

The Project SEA 1448 Phase 4B component of the upgrade improves the Anzac Class Air Search capability by replacing the ageing AN/SPS-49 long-range air search radar with a new digital phased array radar developed by Australian company CEA Technologies.

The program also focuses on a significant upgrade of the ship’s communications facilities, as well as a general platform systems remediation (PSR) program. The PSR will see the upgrade of systems such as propulsion control, fridges, waste management and water production.