Shape of things to come

By Louise Butcher

Potential designs for Australia’s new amphibious ships were on display during the Pacific 2004 International Maritime Expo in Sydney earlier this year.

Photo: MAJ John Liston

An agreement promoting cooperation between the RAN and the United States Navy in all aspects of maritime surface warfare has been signed.

CN Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie and the US Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Vern Clark signed the agreement in Washington last month which will significantly assist in the development of the RANs new air warfare destroyers.

The agreement, modeled on the successful 2001 Submarine Statement of Principles, will serve as the framework within which both navies will communicate and transfer information, ensuring an improved working arrangement through compatible technologies.

Defence Minister Senator Robert Hill said, “Our Navy’s access to the USN provides us with significant opportunities to ensure our fleet can take full advantage of new technology and concepts.

“This will mean we will be able to benefit from the US Navy’s wealth of experience in the highest level use of the Aegis air warfare system as we develop the requirements for our destroyers.”

The agreement will provide the RAN with support on technological development and doctrine, integrate the two navies technology systems and encourage joint training exercises.

It will also promote cooperation in defence science, technology and industrial relationships enhancing the warfighting capabilities of both navies and assist with the development of the Air Warfare Destroyer Combat System design.

Australian industry in USN programs will also benefit from the agreement.

“The statement will promote opportunities for Australian industry at a time when almost all of the RANs surface fleet are being renewed as we pursue the strategic capabilities set out in the new Defence Capability plan,” Senator Hill said In other reports relating to the Defence Capability Plan, designs for two new amphibious support ships that will significantly boost Australia’s capability will be put to the Government for consideration by the end of 2004.

The plans for the new ships that will eventually replace HMAS Tobruk (CMDR Nicholas Bramwell) and one of the Navy’s LPAs came after the recent Defence Capability Review highlighted significant future improvements for Navy.

Senator Hill said recently at the Pacific 2004 conference in Darling Harbour that the RAN must be able to project power in littoral areas and transport and provide support to the Army if deployed further a field.

Defence has issued a request for information to two international ship builders, the Spanish company IZAR and the French conglomerate Armaris, concerning their respective designs.

The Government has asked four Australian shipbuilding companies, ADI, Tenix, ASC and Forgacs to assist with the design evaluation.

.