Prime Contractor: The AWD Alliance (comprising the DMO, ASC AWD Shipbuilder Proprietary Limited and Raytheon Australia Proprietary Limited).

Project Description: The AWD project will acquire three Hobart Class Air Warfare Destroyers and their support system for the ADF.

The Commonwealth also has a platform system design contract with Navantia, SA (Spain), and the Aegis Combat System is being supplied through a US Navy FMS program.

The AWD project is progressing within budget. Fabrication is underway on all HMAS Hobart hull blocks with the exception of the mast block. In response to delays in hull block fabrication, the AWD Alliance acted to reduce by up to 12 months a potential two year slippage in the completion of HMAS Hobart. Two key actions were an initial reallocation of hull blocks among Australian shipyards in December 2010, followed by a further reallocation of blocks between the Australian shipyards and Navantia in May 2011. The AWD Alliance also took action in 2010 to make available more shipbuilding experts for the three shipyards from Navantia, Bath Iron Works and Lloyds Register.

There has been good progress on the acquisition and integration of the Aegis Combat System equipment and the adaptation of the US Navy Aegis computer program for the AWDs. Progress on the development and testing of the AWD Australian Tactical Interface (ATI) has also been good. ATI integrates the core Aegis system with Australian-selected sub-systems such as sonar, infrared search and track, and very short range defence.

Major milestones in 2011-2012 include the delivery of hull blocks to Adelaide from BAE Systems in Melbourne and Forgacs in Newcastle, consolidation of hull blocks and laying of the keel for HMAS Hobart in Adelaide, and a substantial increase in combat system equipment delivery.

Areas of risk and opportunity for the project in 2011-12 include achieving peak hull production capacity, recruiting and training people to meet this peak workforce demand, successful delivery of hull blocks to Adelaide, maintaining a safe workplace as shipyard production increases, and stabilising workflow in order to achieve maximum shipbuilding productivity.

Latest Project Updates

Related links:

http://www.navy.gov.au/fleet/ships-boats-craft/awd

AWD project.

Latest Project Updates: September 6, 2012 AWD update