Major changes unsurpassed in history

The Super Seasprites and their Penguin missile system add a potent sting to the Navy.

An artist’s impression of the new Armidale class patrol.

Australia’s new amphibious ships may have a floodable docking facility.

The recent announcement of key outcomes from the Defence Capability Review have highlighted significant improvements for Navy.

Indeed, new additions to the fleet over the next decade or so will provide a level of combat firepower, amphibious warfare, sealift and surveillance capabilities that in many ways are unsurpassed in the history of the Navy.

Perhaps the most complex of these new capabilities will be the introduction of three airwarfare destroyers (AWD).

The first of the new ships is planned to enter service in 2013. It will be a ship between 6,000 to 8,000 tonnes and have a crew of less than 200.

It’s already been announced the destroyers will incorporate an advanced US-designed combat system – probably a variant of the Aegis air warfare system that incorporates a high powered phased array radar and long range missiles.

This airwarfare system can track large numbers of aircraft at extended range and, in combination with modern air warfare missiles, can simultaneously destroy multiple aircraft at ranges in excess of 150km.

It more than triples the range the Navy can engage an air target and allows ships to act prior to hostile aircraft being in a position to launch their own weapons.

The AWD will work alongside the Air Force’s new airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft and next generation fighters.

The acquisition of the new destroyers is a significant part of one of the biggest overhauls in the Royal Australian Navy’s history.

Other major acquisitions include two 20,000-plus tonne amphibious warfare ships to replace HMAS Tobruk and an LPA, the installation of SM2 missiles and a major upgrade of four of the Navy’s FFGs, the addition of a large strategic lift ship to replace the second LPA and an early replacement for the fleet oiler HMAS Westralia.

The Government has indicated a strong preference to build the new airwarfare destroyers in Australia in an estimated $4.5 billion project.

According to the Director of Maritime Development, CAPT Steve Gilmore, detailed design options for the new destroyers will be put to the Government by the end of 2004.

“From a capability perspective it’s going to introduce into service a true area air warfare capability and become a critical component of an ADF air warfare system,” CAPT Gilmore said.

“It’s most exciting and quite probably the most complex capability the RAN will have ever introduced.”

The Navy had deliberately set out to select a suitable airwarfare system before finding a hull to house this cutting edge technology. This methodology recognises the significance, in terms of both cost and capability, of this part of the overall ship.

Meanwhile, work on the $1 billion upgrade of the Navy’s FFGs has already commenced with HMAS Sydney the first ship to undergo the work at ADI’s Garden Island facility in Sydney.

CAPT Gilmore said fitting the FFGs with SM2 missiles would give the Navy an interim area airwarfare capability prior to the delivery of the new destroyers.

The addition of two new amphibious transport ships, with multiple helicopter spots and organic landing craft operated from a large well dock area, would give the Navy the capacity to embark, deploy and sustain a significant land force and their supporting elements.

The DCR also includes the acquistion of a strategic sealift capability.

This is complementary to amphibious operations and will enable the provision of considerable support to deployed forces.

Coupled with these acquisitions is a major upgrade for the Anzacs, the addition of Armidale class patrol boats from 2005, the replacement of the combat system and new advanced heavyweight torpedoes for the Collins class subs, the introduction of the Super Seasprite helicopters and their Penguin missile system, the replacement of the sensor in the laser airborne depth sounder (LADS) aircraft and the continued installation of a new mine warfare (MW) command support system within the MW group.

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