Melbourne on way up

FINAL BERTH: HMAS Melbourne sits alongside Fleet Base East for the final time before her upgrade. HMAS Melbourne will be in refit for the next 12-18 months as part of the $1billion FFG upgrade program. Photo: ABPH Helen Frank

By Michael Brooke

Maritime Commander Australia said the $1billion FFG Upgrade Program that began with HMAS Sydney and involves work on another three Adelaide class missile frigates is on track.

RADM Davyd Thomas said it “was smooth sailing” for HMAS Melbourne (CMDR Tony Raeside) which entered into a Combined Upgrade Availability (CUA) consisting of DSRA 5 and the FFG UP at FBE recently.

RADM Thomas said Navy and ADI technicians had learnt valuable lessons from the systems integration work carried out on Sydney, now conducting sea trials.
RADM Thomas said on completion of FFG UP in 12-18 months, Melbourne would join Sydney as the Navy’s most capable multi-purpose frigates.

“Very importantly, the upgraded FFGs will continue to provide the backbone of the Area Air Warfare capability of the Fleet until the introduction of the Air Warfare Destroyers in the next decade.”

RADM Thomas said one of the main features of the FFG UP was the long range SM2 air warfare missile.

CMDR Raeside said the majority of the crew will remain in situ for the duration of the upgrade with extensive training at the upgraded operational training facility at HMAS Watson.

“With several members onboard recently being promoted to the status of ‘Dad’, the CUA couldn’t have come quick enough,” he said.
The FFG UP was devised to ensure a credible level of area defence and capability against modern sea skimming ship missiles, for existing and emerging threats.

The program will substantially improve offensive capability, self-defensive capability, logistic support operations, crew conditions, servicing and maintenance operations, environmental considerations, and RAN’s Operator Trainer and Team Trainer programs.

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