• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

F-100 Hobart Class Air Warfare Destroyer - Program

The AWD Program has four phases:

Phase 1 - Project Definition. The key outcomes during Phase 1 were the development of detailed operational requirements specifications; whole-of-ship, costed concept designs; the definition of the combat system architecture, and the selection of alliance industry participants.

Phase 2 - Design. During Phase 2 the AWD Program developed Acquisition Business Cases for Government consideration at Second Pass for the Evolved and Existing Design capability options. A key outcome of Phase 2 was the selection of the Navantia F100 platform design as the baseline for Australia's future Hobart Class AWD. Phase 2 completed when the Phase 3 contracts were signed on 4 October 2007.

Phase 3 - Build. The key outcomes of Phase 3 will be the finalisation of detailed design work, delivery to Navy of the lead and at least two follow-on ships and the associated support systems. The support systems include crew training, shore facilities development, maintenance schemes and spare parts inventories.

Phase 4 - Naval Operational Test and Evaluation. Phase 4 includes the Initial Operational Release of all three ships followed by operational test and evaluation of the ships and associated systems. The principle objective of Phase 4 is the acceptance of the ships and shore facilities into naval service.

Australia's largest naval ship-building contracts were awarded to the Spanish company Navantia. Three F-100 air warfare destroyers, worth $6.7 billion, will be built in Adelaide, South Australa, and are expected to enter service beginning in 2014. The new air warfare destroyers are expected to be fitted with standard SM-3 missiles to defend against ballistic missile attack and will be fiited with a USN/LMCO AEGIS system. Raytheon Australia was selected as the mission systems integrator, and will complete the design, development and procurement of the designed-for-Australia combat system.

An alliance based contracting strategy has been employed by the AWD Program for the Build Phase of the project. The Air Warfare Destroyer Program's adoption and management of the Alliance strategy is widely recognised as an international benchmark for major Defence acquisitions.

In April 2005 the Australian Government selected Raytheon Australia Pty Ltd as the Combat System - Systems Engineer. The Commonwealth chose Raytheon Australia as the combat system systems engineer for the AWD project. It is Raytheon's responsibility to integrate the selected Lockheed Martin Aegis combat system, which the Commonwealth purchased from the U.S. Navy for A$1 billion. Learning from the Collins class experience, the Commonwealth's purchase of the Aegis system is intended to 'minimise the risk of any delay in the 2013 delivery for the first Air Warfare Destroyer'.

The AWD shipbuilding contract was contested between two Australian primes; ASC and Tenix. Both companies lodged very competitive tenders with strong backing from their respective state governments. On 31 May 2005, the Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon. Robert Hill, announced that ASC AWD Shipbuilder Pty Ltd (ASC) was the government's preferred shipbuilder for the project 'on the basis that ASC Shipbuilders offered a superior bid in terms of value for money'. The Minister also noted the government's allocation of $455 million until mid-2007 to fund further design work, workforce skilling, initial infrastructure investment and facilities construction. The South Australian government provided $115 million in funding for a common user facility at Osborne while ASC contributed $69 million.

Following a further competitive tender process, in August 2005, the government announced that U.S. firm Gibbs & Cox had been selected as the preferred designer for the AWD hull. Gibbs & Cox opted to evolve a design based on the U.S. Arleigh Burke destroyer. Again, the government identified the Gibbs & Cox tender as 'a superior bid in terms of value for money'. However, the government retained the right to choose a cheaper 'military off-the-shelf' design option developed by the Spanish firm Navantia based on the Spanish F100 destroyer.

ASC, Raytheon Australia, and the Commonwealth government form the AWD Alliance. The Alliance is part of the government's collaborative strategy, designed to reduce project risk, meet contract schedules and deliver a high level of capability. The practical expression of the Alliance is the AWD System Centre in Adelaide. Opened in August 2006, the centre will accommodate staff from ASC, Gibbs & Cox, Raytheon, Navantia, Lockheed Martin, the Commonwealth government and the U.S. Navy. The Systems Centre will employ 200 people to develop lifetime support for the AWDs. A particular challenge will be to update continually the AWDs' software to ensure compatibility with U.S. Navy Aegis vessels.

As the prime contractor for the AWDs, ASC faced particular challenges, including the crucial issue of attracting sufficient skilled labour into large-scale naval shipbuilding projects at a time when the resources sector is booming and unemployment is low. The company has had no trouble to date in meeting its staffing requirements for both the AWD and Collins class refit projects. ASC had met its recruitment targets for AWD to date and was fulfilling its objectives on that program.

In January 2006 the Government announced that the AWDs would be named HMAS Hobart, HMAS Brisbane and HMAS Sydney ensuring the three ships reflect a rich history of service. The original HMAS Hobart, constructed in the UK, was transferred to the Royal Australian Navy in October 1938 seeing World War II service throughout the Middle East, the Mediterranean and Malaya. Evading severe Japanese bombing in the Coral Sea and Solomon Islands in 1942 she was among the first Australian ships present when the Japanese surrendered in August 1945. The US-built HMAS Hobart II was launched in 1964, joining the US 7th Fleet in Vietnam in 1967 and completing three tours of duty. In 1974 she was one of the first ships to provide relief to Cyclone Tracy stricken Darwin and in 1979 her quarterdeck became the site of a world-first temporary helipad to allow the airlift of an injured Antarctic scientist.

On 20 June 2007, the Australian Government announced that the Navantia designed F100 had been selected as the basis for Australia's future Hobart Class AWDs. The F100 ensures tomorrow's Navy has the best equipment to defend Australia and its national interests.

Air Warfare Destroyer build contract was awarded to the Australian Submarine Corporation Limited (a consortiumof ASC/AWD Shipbuilder Pty Ltd, Raytheon Australia Pty Ltd, Gibbs & Cox Inc., and Lockheed Martin) This project is expected to generate more than 2,000 jobs throughout Australia in a broad range of fields including electronics, systems integration and fabrication. The Australian Submarine Corporation, based in South Australia, is responsible for the construction of the ships. ASC Shipbuilding, which is building the navy's new air warfare destroyer project work force, will grow to around 500 personnel by 2015 from its 300-strong workforce in 2009 as construction work on the AWD accelerates.

Up to 70% of the module construction will be subcontracted to other shipyards throughout Australia, providing an excellent opportunity for the whole of the Australian defense industry to become involved in the project, and openingup important flow-on benefits for key sub-contractors. This means opportunities for US companies to partner with Australian industry, and in some cases there may be the potential for US companies to establish stand alone operations in Australia to participate in direct contract work where appropriate.

The USS Lassen paid a three-week visit to Australia, beginning in Sydney, 23 April 2007. The USS Lassen demonstrated the capability of the Gibbs & Cox air warfare destroyer design as a solution for Australian defense Project Sea 4000. Gibbs & Cox, (Australia) Pty Ltd is a fully owned subsidiary of Gibbs & Cox Inc. of Arlington, VA. Gibbs & Cox has been a world leader in naval design since 1929. It has worked with the Royal Australian Navy for nearly 40 years.

The AWD Program is one of the largest and most complex Defence projects ever undertaken in Australia. A key objective of this nation building project is to ensure that the benefits to industry are maximised to enhance Australia's strategic industrial base. All ships will be consolidated at ASC's shipyard at Osborne near Adelaide, and major hull blocks will be constructed in other shipyards and facilities around Australia. It is expected that a large number of the machinery modules will also be distributed to manufacturers across the country. The systems engineering of the Hobart Class Combat System will be led within the Alliance by Raytheon Australia. There will be key opportunities for Australian Industry to design and construct various sub-systems and equipment for the Australianised combat system.

The DMO, ASC and Raytheon Australia work together as the AWD Alliance to deliver the Hobart Class to the Royal Australian Navy. The Alliance Based Target Incentive Agreement (ABTIA) is the contractual instrument governing the Alliance and was signed on 4 October 2007. The philosophy behind the Alliance strategy is to integrate Defence and Industry to ensure the best-for-program outcomes based upon a pain share-gain share contracting strategy. Navantia, responsible for the platform system design, is contracted to the Commonwealth and works seamlessly with the Alliance participants in achieving program objectives. The Platform System Design contract was also signed on 4 October 2007.

The Minister for Defence, the Hon Joel Fitzgibbon MP, announced 02 May 2009 a vision for a new force structure for the Australian Defence Force, as part of the release of the new Defence White Paper. The Minister stated that "By the mid 2020s, we will have a more potent maritime force. The Government will increase the size of the submarine force; replace the current ANZAC Class frigate with a larger and more capable Future Frigate optimised for anti-submarine warfare; consider the acquisition of a fourth Air Warfare Destroyer and enhance capability for offshore maritime warfare, border protection and mine counter-measures."

The three AWDs will be consolidated at the company’s Osborne shipyard in South Australia (ASC South), and their construction will be one of the most significant shipbuilding projects ever undertaken in Australia. Since entering into the alliance based contract for the design and construction of three Hobart Class AWDs in October 2007, key milestones have been completed according to plan, most notably the Integrated Baseline Review in July 2008 and the Preliminary Design Review in December 2008. Procurement of major Combat System and Platform equipment is well in hand, and preparations are advanced for the commencement of ship construction activities during calendar year 2009. Shipyard development is proceeding to plan, the Administration Building has been completed and occupied, and completion of the remainder is scheduled before the end of November 2009.

On 16 June 2010, Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Materiel and Science, announced that the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Alliance had signed a contract with Toll North Pty Ltd for the transport of 66 hull blocks by sea from Newcastle and Melbourne to Adelaide where they will be consolidated into Australia's three Hobart Class AWDs. Mr Combet said the signing of this $25 million contract represented a significant milestone in the multi-billion dollar project. "Full block production is now underway at three shipyards across Australia: ASC in Adelaide, BAE Systems in Melbourne and Forgacs in Newcastle," Mr Combet said.

During 2010/11 [the financial year ended 30 June 2011] significant progress was made in the construction phase of the AWD project at ASC in Adelaide, Forgacs in Newcastle and BAE Systems in Williamstown but the project was not without its difficulties. The period 2010/11 saw significant milestones achieved across the business. Construction of the AWD blocks reached new heights at three shipyards across Australia with all the blocks for Ship 1 well underway by the end of the financial year. ASC also started work on its allocated blocks for Ship 2 in early June 2011.

In the last quarter of the 2010/11 period the federal government, on recommendation from the alliance, announced the reallocation of construction work which would relieve the pressure on the BAE shipyard. As a result ASC and Forgacs will share the construction and completion of additional blocks for the first of the three AWDs. A small number of blocks will also be reallocated to Spain to be built under subcontract by AWD design partner Navantia. The end of the 2010/11 period saw ASC and Newcastle based Forgacs take on additional block work on the project after the Williamstown shipyard reported potential schedule delays with the construction of blocks for the first of the three AWDs. The AWD Alliance reassigned blocks to ensure minimal disruption to the project schedule.

The 2010/2011 period saw the pace of construction rapidly increase at the three shipyards across Australia including New South Wales-based Forgacs, Victorian-based BAE Systems and ASC. Construction of all blocks for Ship 1 under ASC’s responsibility, commenced in the 2010/11 financial year and April 2011 saw a major milestone reached with the commencement of construction of Ship 2.

Other major milestones for the year included: Structural completion of the first sub blocks for Ship 1; Completion of the first block rotation event; and Completion of the first full ‘pre-fit out’ activity including pipe, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and cable tray installation. Another significant milestone for the 2010/11 period was the completion of the ASC Blast and Paint Facility. In Addition, ASC continued to prepare the shipyard for the consolidation phase expected to start early in 2012 with the commencement of construction of the two OSTs on the boundary with the CUF.

Early in the Program, block construction difficulties and subsequent block reallocations occurred, along with re-baselining of the Program schedule. In 2014, an independent review identified that the Program was significantly over budget and schedule. On 6 March 2014, the ANAO released its performance audit on the Australian Warfare Destroyers (AWDs) which was highly critical of the project. The public response to the ANAO report tended to focus on the project's poor performance. Media headlines spoke of cost blowouts, the bleak future facing Australian shipyards, with some referring to the looming 'valley of death' for the industry. At that time, the Minister for Defence also announced that the AWD program was to be added to the projects of concern list and would join five other ADF projects including the Collins Class Submarine Sustainment Program, which had been on the list since 2008.

on 4 June 2014, the Minister for Finance made a public statement raising further concerns about the AWD project. He stated that when the Coalition came into government, both he and the Minister for Defence were confronted with advice that the AWD program was in 'serious trouble'. Noting the critical importance of this program to national security, he explained that the project was experiencing significant delays in its delivery and considerable cost overruns. In his view, the government had inherited a deteriorating position and the project was about 21 months behind schedule. The Minister indicated that the problems encountered with the AWDs could have far-reaching implications for Australia's naval shipbuilding industry.

In 2015 the Government implemented an initiative to reform the AWD Program. As part of that reform, Navantia was brought in to the shipyard to manage the build for the remainder of the Program. The Program was, post-reform, on budget and on schedule. The first destroyer had been delivered, with the second due for delivery in July 2018 and the third in December 2019.

On 23 May 2015 the launch of the first destroyer, Hobart was an important milestone for the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) program, advancing the progress on all three destroyers. This is a key achievement for the program and a big step forward toward the delivery of three highly capable warships to the Royal Australian Navy. On 03 March 2017, the Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance celebrated the successful completion of Sea Acceptance Trials by the first destroyer Hobart following 21 days at sea off the coast of South Australia. Over the past five weeks, the AWD Alliance has conducted some 20 platform system tests and 45 combat system tests, to successfully validate Hobart’s complete Mission System.

During sea trials, Hobart’s sensors, weapons and communications systems have been put to the test by Royal Australian Air Force and civilian aircraft, Royal Australian Navy ships and helicopters through a complex series of simulated scenarios and battle space management. The successful completion of Sea Acceptance Trials was achieved through the combined efforts of the 200+ crew on-board each week and the shore support team, with assistance from the Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force, and Defence industry. On 16 June 2017 the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Alliance celebrated the Government’s provisional acceptance of the first destroyer, Hobart, at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia. Hobart is the first of three destroyers being built and integrated by the AWD Alliance which comprises the Department of Defence, Raytheon Australia and ASC with support from Navantia. In the coming months, Hobart will transit from Adelaide to Sydney where she will be commissioned into service by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) later this year. Since entering service in late 2017, HMAS Hobart continually established herself as the Royal Australian Navy’s most capable and advanced warship.

Brisbane, the second Hobart Class destroyer, was launched in the Adelaide shipyard on 15 December 2016. The launch of the second destroyer Brisbane is an important milestone for the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) program and follows the successful conduct of Builder Sea Trials for the first AWD, just three months earlier. Following the official naming ceremony, the ship was lowered in the Government of South Australia’s Common User Facility ship lift to float for the first time.

The 19 May 2018 launch of the third and final Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD), Sydney, is a further demonstration of the sovereign shipbuilding industry and combat systems integration capability that has been built by the AWD program over the past decade. Sydney has now joined the second AWD, Brisbane, alongside the wharf at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia. AWD Program Manager Commodore (CDRE) Craig Bourke congratulated the workforce on achieving this significant milestone. “Over the past ten years, we have seen more than 5,000 people and 1,500 suppliers contribute millions of hours of effort to the AWD program – the most complex defence project ever undertaken in Australia.”

On 27 October 2018, the Commonwealth of Australia delivered the AWD “Brisbane” to the Royal Australian Navy, second of the series of three that has been built with Navantia’s design and technology, as they are based on the F100 class frigates, built for the Spanish Navy. Navantia is also cooperating in the construction of these three ships in Adelaide’s shipyard. The ceremony took place in Garden Island naval base in Sydney and counted with the attendance of the president of Navantia, Susana de Sarriá, who emphasized the “pride for Navantia and for the whole the Spanish industry for the international success achieved by a company as Navantia “.