Royal Australian Navy's Fifth ANZAC-class Frigate HMAS Toowoomba to undertake AMCAP upgrade.

Henderson shipyard is a hive of activity, in preparation for HMAS Toowoomba, the fifth ship to undertake the AMCAP upgrade. The vessel will be joining HMAS Warramunga and HMAS Perth on the hardstand late August.
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HMAS Toowoomba departs Sydney Harbour to participate in Exercise TALISMAN SABRE 2017. (Picture source: Commonwealth of Australia)

HMAS Toowoomba:

HMAS Toowoomba is the seventh of eight Anzac Class frigates built by Tenix Defence Systems at Williamstown, Victoria for the Royal Australian Navy. The design is based on the German Meko 200 frigate.

Toowoomba is a long-range frigate capable of air defence, surface and undersea warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance and interdiction. Toowoomba's combat capabilities have been significantly improved under the Anti-Ship Missile Defence upgrade program, a world-class program that provides an enhanced sensor and weapons systems capability. The upgrade showcases Australian design and integration capability, with new Phased Array Radar technology designed by CEA Technologies in Canberra, upgrades to combat systems performed by Saab Systems in South Australia, and platform integration design by BAE Systems in Victoria.

Toowoomba is fitted with an advanced package of air and surface surveillance radars; omni-directional hull-mounted sonar and electronic support systems that interface with the state-of-the-art 9LV453 Mk3E combat data system. The ship can counter simultaneous threats from aircraft, surface vessels and submarines.

The ship's main armament comprises one Mark 45 capable of firing 20 rounds per minute, ship launched Mark 46 torpedoes and a Mark 41 vertical launch system for the Evolved Sea Sparrow missile. Toowoomba also has eight anti-ship/land-attack canister launched harpoon missiles. The ship's other defence systems include the Nulka active missile decoy system, offboard chaff and a torpedo countermeasures system.

HMAS Toowoomba, like her sister frigates HMA Ships Anzac, Arunta, Ballarat, Parramatta, Perth, Stuart and Warramunga features a "combined diesel or gas" (CODOG) propulsion plant which enables the ship to sustain sprint speeds of greater than 27 knots and allows an operational range in excess of 6,000 nautical miles at 18 knots.

Anzac-class frigates:

BAE Systems Australia’s involvement in the Anzac-class frigates spans across three decades commencing with the design and construction of ten vessels, eight for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and two for the Royal New Zealand Navy, in Williamstown, Victoria between 1989 and 2006. Since the Anzac-class entered into service, BAE Systems has continued to play a significant role in the Through Life Support and Asset Management of the Australian frigates with ongoing maintenance, and more recently two major upgrades. The upgrades have involved hundreds of employees and is providing a formidable fleet of updated and capable warships to the RAN.

The first upgrade, the Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) Upgrade Program between 2010 to 2017, involved installation of a new phased array radar onto the platform, major engineering upgrades and maintenance to the entire fleet of Anzac-class frigates.

The second upgrade, the Anzac Midlife Capability Assurance Program (AMCAP), is an ongoing upgrade which focuses on updating the ageing platform systems, communications, installation of the Long Range Air Search Radar and general maintenance and is due to complete in 2023.