By
Graham Davis
The
multi-million dollar upgrade of the RAN’s six Adelaide Class
guided missile frigates (FFGs) is set to start next month and
ADI Ltd is the prime contractor.
The first to be upgraded will be HMAS Sydney (CMDR Michael Van
Balen) with work due to begin at Garden Island Dockyard on September
22.
Sydney is due back from Operation Catalyst later this month.
In readiness for the extensive project, ADI Ltd has advertised
for another 80 tradespeople to bolster the existing workforce.
They include electricians, boilermakers, sheetmetal workers, pipe
fabricators and plumbers.
The first of the class, HMAS Adelaide was commissioned in 1980
and the sixth, HMAS Newcastle, in 1993.
The ships, modified Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates, were constructed
in the US and Australia.
The program will provide capability upgrades to the six warships
to increase their operational effectiveness against regional threats
and ensure their supportability to the end of their lives.
It will entail improvements to self-defence and war-fighting capabilities
and enhancement to the ship’s reliability, maintainability,
availability and supportability.
Due for upgrade are the ships’ C3 and surveillance capabilities,
air and underwater warfare capabilities, engineering, on-board
training capability, improved shore support ability and the capabilities
of the platform itself.
With the additional equipment each ship’s weight will increase
from 4,100 tonnes to 4,200 tonnes.
The ships’companies will be better off with improved capabilities
to produce chilled water, improved ventilation, more drying space
in the mess decks and modified laundry facilities.
