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Sydney up for milestone
By Michael Brooke

Volume 50, No. 1, February 8, 2007
 
NEW KIT: Defence has taken provisional acceptance of HMAS Sydney after the ship passed another FFG upgrade milestone.
 
HMAS Sydney (CMDR Guy Holthouse) and her hard-working ship’s company have reached another important milestone in the $1 billion FFG Upgrade Program.

The milestone was recorded on December 15 when the Defence Department took provisional acceptance of Sydney at a ceremony at Garden Island.
Director General Major Surface Ships, CDRE Drew McKinnie, told Navy News that provisional acceptance and delivery of HMAS Sydney was a great achievement.

“This milestone now gives Navy the opportunity to commence operational test and evaluation of this new capability,” he said.

“The new systems and sensors show great promise of improved performance.

“There is much interest from overseas Navies in how our uniquely upgraded Australian FFGs, with vertical launching systems, Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles and an upgrade path to SM2 missiles, and Australian-developed combat system with new integrations of above and under water sensors will perform.”

Under the $1 billion capability project, Sydney’s combat system software will be progressively upgraded as the new capabilities are fielded.

Meanwhile, HMAS Darwin (CMDR C.A. Powell) entered the Captain Cook dry-dock on January 3 for the FFG Upgrade and also maintenance availability work.

Sister ship HMAS Melbourne (CMDR S.J. Hughes) is scheduled to return to sea to commence weapon system trials later this year.

Melbourne is continuing its Upgrade program after its earlier- than-scheduled undocking in July 2006, with provisional acceptance of the ship slated for later this year.