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Project updates

Minister for Defence and Minister for Defence Materiel provide Air Warfare Destroyer update
28 Nov, 2011

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today provided an update on the $8 billion Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) project. Across Australia 2,100 workers are currently working directly on the AWD project with that number expected to increase to 2,400 at the peak of the project next year. All blocks for the first AWD, HMAS Hobart, are now under construction with some in advanced fit-out, and work has also commenced on 11 blocks for the second ship, HMAS Brisbane.

More work and more jobs for The Hunter on new Australian warships
19 Oct, 2011

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare and Member for Newcastle Sharon Grierson today announced more work and more jobs for the Hunter on the new Air Warfare Destroyers Project. When the Air Warfare Destroyer project began in 2009, Hunter company Forgacs were contracted to build 29 steel blocks. This has now increased to 40 blocks. In February Forgacs were awarded nine more blocks. Following a re-allocation of work announced in May this year, Forgacs has been awarded another two blocks. This additional work is worth around $80 million and will create approximately 200 more jobs.

Another two blocks arrive in Adelaide for new Australian warship
28 Sep, 2011

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that two more keel blocks had been delivered to Adelaide to construct Australia’s first Air Warfare Destroyer. This follows the delivery of the first keel block last month. The blocks were constructed at the Williamstown shipyard in Melbourne. They were loaded on to barges last week and transported to Adelaide over the weekend. Mr Clare said this was another step forward in the $8 billion project to construct three new warships for the Royal Australian Navy.

First keel block delivered for new Australian warship
19 Aug, 2011

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare announced the delivery to Adelaide of the first keel block that will be used to construct HMAS Hobart – Australia’s first Air Warfare Destroyer. “This is an important step forward in the $8 billion project to construct three new warships,” Mr Clare said. This first block weighs around 180 tonnes. It is 18 metres long, 16 metres wide and five metres high and will form part of the keel of HMAS Hobart.
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