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Lockheed Martin Australia has officially congratulated the Royal Australian Navy on the commissioning of the third and final Hobart Class guided-missile destroyer, HMAS Sydney, which marks a major milestone in the modernisation of the RAN fleet.
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This major industry and fleet milestone marks the culmination of the Air Warfare Destroyer program, which sees the complete fleet of Hobart Class destroyers joining the global Aegis fleet.
Joe North, chief executive of Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand, congratulated the Royal Australian Navy on this significant event, saying, “I commend the Royal Australian Navy on the commissioning of HMAS Sydney and the successful delivery of the Aegis Combat System to the Hobart Class destroyers.”
North added, “It is a terrific outcome for the Royal Australian Navy, for Australia, and for Australian industry who worked on the Air Warfare Destroyer program to build Australian sovereign maritime capability. Importantly, the Aegis-equipped Hobart Class destroyers will further enhance the Royal Australian Navy’s situational awareness on the high seas to detect and defend against critical threats.”
With more than 100 Aegis-equipped ships deployed worldwide, the Royal Australian Navy is enabled to unite with the wider family of Aegis allied nations, ensuring greater global interoperability, increased maritime domain awareness and safeguards for our collective navies’ missions.
“Lockheed Martin pioneered systems integration more than 50 years ago, and we continually provide proven solutions as Australia’s premier naval systems integrator for the nation’s newest surface and subsurface fleets and rotary wing aircraft. We look forward to our ongoing relationship with the Royal Australian Navy and working hand-in-hand to sustain the Aegis Combat System onboard the Hobart Class destroyers,” North said.
As the developer of the Aegis system, Lockheed Martin said it is proud to continue its legacy as the combat system engineering agent (CSEA) for the US Navy to design, develop, integrate, test and sustain Aegis-equipped ships globally.
In support of the Commonwealth and Australia’s national security interests, Lockheed Martin Australia also said it looked forward to continuing its close collaboration with the RAN, the US Navy and local industry to ensure the successful delivery and maintenance of Australia’s Aegis Combat System.
HMAS Sydney, alongside HMA Ships Hobart and Brisbane, will primarily provide air defence for accompanying ships, in addition to land forces and infrastructure in coastal areas. The Hobart Class’ Spanish counterparts entered service with the Spanish Navy beginning in the early 2000s, working alongside key NATO and US maritime assets.
When deployed to the Persian Gulf, the F100s became the first foreign Aegis-equipped ships to fully integrate into a US Navy Carrier Strike Group, while the class has also successfully deployed as the flagship of NATO’s Maritime Group Standing Reaction Force, highlighting the individual and interoperable capabilities of Navy’s new destroyers.
The vessels will be capable across the full spectrum of joint maritime operations, from area air defence and escort duties, right through to peacetime national tasking and diplomatic missions.
The Hobart Class combat system is built around the Aegis weapon system. Incorporating the state-of-the-art phased array radar, AN/SPY 1D(V), will provide an advanced air defence system capable of engaging enemy aircraft and missiles at ranges in excess of 150 kilometres.
While based upon the Spanish F100s, the Australian vessels incorporate a number of modifications and Australian-specific structural/design and combat system modifications to provide a uniquely Australian surface combatant with international provenance.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
