Project Overview

   

Project Status

Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Materiel and Science, today announced that the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Alliance has signed a contract with Toll North Pty Ltd for the transport of 66 hull blocks by sea from Newcastle and Melbourne to Adelaide where they will be consolidated into Australia’s three Hobart Class AWDs.

Mr Combet said the signing of this $25 million contract represented a significant milestone in the multi-billion dollar project. Read more

On 20 May Mr Combet announced that the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Alliance had selected Thales Australia Limited as the preferred supplier for satellite communications (SATCOM) equipment for the Hobart Class destroyers.

“The AWD will go to sea with a communications system that will not only meet the operational needs of a modern warship, but also allows the ship’s crew to keep in touch with family and friends via email and internet services,” Mr Combet said. Read more

On 20 April Mr Combet and Sharon Grierson MP, Federal Member for Newcastle, met local apprentices and workers at Forgacs shipyard in Newcastle who are fabricating hull blocks for Australia’s three Hobart Class Air Warfare Destroyers (AWDs). Read more

On 14 April Mr Combet announced that the Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance has selected ITT–EDO Reconnaissance and Surveillance Systems, Inc as the preferred supplier for the electronic warfare system for the Hobart Class Air Warfare Destroyers (AWDs).

“This is a modern electronic warfare system that uses proven technology and delivers the right capability and value for money. The solution also involves Australian companies and incorporates home-grown technology,” Mr Combet said. Read more

AWD Alliance CEO, John Gallacher, welcomed the involvement of the two Australian-based companies, Jenkins Engineering and Avalon Systems.

“The decision means that the Alliance is close to completing the procurement of all the key components of the ships’ combat system on schedule. The EW component will be integrated with the Aegis weapon system that successfully completed testing in the United States late last year,” said AWD Alliance CEO, John Gallacher.Read more

The Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Alliance has strengthened its partnership with the Industry Capability Network (ICN) to better communicate with suppliers interested in securing contracts for Australia’s most advanced naval warships.

The nation-building AWD project is the most complex ever undertaken by Defence in Australia. Key aims are ensuring maximum benefits to industry and enhancing Australia’s strategic industrial base. ICN links industry with major projects, identifying and matching buyers to suppliers of products and services.

Alliance CEO, John Gallacher said the AWD Alliance Supplier Registration Portal has been operating since the start of 2007. The Alliance and ICN have now begun a three-month trial with ICN representative David Land embedded in the AWD team, aiming to make engagement with industry more efficient.

“In so doing, the Alliance and ICN seek to ensure that where opportunities exist for local suppliers, these opportunities are identified and maximised.

“The Alliance, just like many European companies, uses the Ariba Procurement software package for all of its purchasing activities. Our procurement team is finding that once new users get used to it, they find the system very efficient.

“Within the Alliance we are making sure everything is received on time, from tender submissions to purchase deliveries. Suppliers need to be committed to that as well,” said Mr Gallacher. Read more

The AWD project reached two significant milestones with the opening by the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, of ASC’s $120 million shipyard, located at Osborne, South Australia on 21 January 2010 and the completion of the project’s Critical Design Review. Read more

The 14 hectare shipyard site represents an investment of $120 million by ASC and is adjacent to the company’s submarine facility and the South Australian Government’s Common User Facility. Construction work began on the site in February 2008 and the facility was completed in November 2009 on schedule and within budget.

The opening of the shipyard was followed on 15 February by the opening of the $400m Common User Facility by South Australian Premier Mike Rann. Read More

 

Design and reviews

Greg Combet, the Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science announced at the PAC 2010 Maritime Conference that the AWD project has passed a critical design milestone.

While the Hobart Class warships are based on the existing designs of the Spanish F-100 platform and US Navy Aegis Combat System there is still a substantial amount of engineering work to be done in preparation for the Australian build program.

That work was the subject of a series of reviews that culminated in the AWD Critical Design Review (CDR) in December 2009. CDR was preceded by 22 lead in reviews, conducted over 35 days and involving more than 300 people reviewing 1200 documents.

Completion of CDR demonstrates that the AWD Alliance has sufficiently developed the design of the ships and will now move into the production phase.

Fast Facts
 
Interactive timeline

  1. 2000

  2. 2001

  3. 2002

  4. 2003

      1. Milestone

        1. 15 Aug 2003
          Kinnaird Review of Defence procurement

          The Kinnaird Review of Defence procurement recommends that greater consideration should be given to alternative approaches to DMO contracting including alliance contracting which it says may be more appropriate for some major complex acquisitions. More

  5. 2004

    1. Milestone

      1. Carnegie Wylie review of naval shipbuilding

        The Carnegie Wylie review provides the Government with advice on implementing the naval shipbuilding program including the acquisition of three air warfare destroyers. More

  6. 2005

      1. Milestone

        1. 21 Apr 2005
          Raytheon Australia chosen as AWD Combat System Systems Engineer

          The Australian Government chooses Raytheon Australia as the Hobart Class Combat System Systems Engineer to design, configure and maintain the combat system for the AWDs. More

      2. Milestone

        1. 31 May 2005
          ASC chosen as AWD Shipbuilder

          The Australian Government chooses ASC Shipbuilder Pty Ltd as the preferred shipbuilder for the Navy’s Air Warfare Destroyers – one of Australia’s largest and most complex Defence projects. More

    2. Milestone

      1. New Alliance Council for AWD Program

        An Alliance Principals’ Council is established to build strong team partnerships between the key partners of the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Program. More

      1. Milestone

        1. 9 Dec 2005
          Purchase of Aegis Combat System for AWDs

          The Government approves the purchase of three Aegis Weapon Systems worth $1 billion – that will form part of the Hobart Class Combat System – the core capability of the AWDs. More

  7. 2006

    1. Milestone

      1. Naming of the AWDs

        Australia’s AWDs to be named after Australian cities with close links with Navy heritage. The AWDs will be named HMAS Hobart, HMAS Brisbane and HMAS Sydney. More

      1. Milestone

        1. 3 Aug 2006
          Opening of new AWD Systems Centre in Adelaide

          The new AWD Systems Centre in Adelaide opens to house Defence and industry participants working together on the AWD Program. More

  8. 2007

      1. Milestone

        1. 2 Mar 2007
          Handover of design deliverables

          Handover of final deliverables submissions for both the Existing and Evolved design solutions.

      1. Milestone

        1. 20 Jun 2007
          Navantia F100 chosen as AWD

          The Government chooses the Navantia-designed F100 as the next generation Air Warfare Destroyer for the Royal Australian Navy. More

      1. Milestone

        1. 4 Oct 2007
          Final contracts signed for AWDs

          The Government announces the signing of the final contracts (including the ABTIA or Alliance Based Target Incentive Agreement) to build the three AWDs for the Navy at a cost of $8 billion – the largest naval shipbuilding project ever undertaken in Australia. More

  9. 2008

    1. Milestone

      1. Systems Functional Review (SFR) held

        Systems Functional Review (SFR) held.

    2. Milestones

      1. AWD Preliminary Design Review conducted

        AWD Preliminary Design Review conducted

      2. Authorised Engineering Organisation (AEO) status granted

        Chief Naval Engineer, Commodore Peter Marshall, grants the AWD Alliance Authorised Engineering Organisation (AEO) status.

  10. 2009

    1. Milestone

      1. AWD Staff begin move to shipyard

        A large contingent of AWD staff move to the newly-completed ASC Shipbuilding Administration Building at Techport Australia.

    2. Milestones

      1. Shipyard Jobs Ramp Up

        Shipyard Jobs begin to ramp up

      2. Blocks Subcontractors

        BAE Systems Australia Defence and FORGACS confirmed as Blocks subcontractors for the AWD project. More

    3. Milestone

      1. Critical Design Review (CDR)

        Critical Design Review (CDR) passed

  11. 2010

    1. Milestone

      1. Block Fabrication to begin

        Block Fabrication to begin at selected subcontrators

      1. Milestone

        1. 21 Jan 2010
          Shipyard opens at Osborne, SA

          ASC’s $120 million shipyard, located at Osborne, South Australia, was officially opened by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. More

      2. Milestone

        1. 15 Feb 2010
          Common User Facility opened at Techport

          The Common User Facility is opened by South Australian Premier Mike Rann at Techport, Osborne, SA. More

    2. Milestone

      1. New Systems Centre

        The new purpose built AWD Systems Centre at Techport Australia to be opened.

  12. 2011

    1. Milestone

      1. Receipt of first blocks from subcontractors

        First blocks from BAE Systems and FORGACS to be recieved at ASC shipyard in Osborne, SA.

  13. 2012

    1. Milestone

      1. Ship 1 - Ship Hull Integration complete

        Ship 1 - Ship Hull Integration completed

  14. 2013

  15. 2014

    1. Milestone

      1. Ship 2 - Ship Hull Integration complete

        Ship 2 - Ship Hull Integration completed

    2. Milestone

      1. Ship 1 - Ship Handover

        Ship 1 - Ship Handover

  16. 2015

    1. Milestone

      1. Ship 3 - Ship Hull Integration complete

        Ship 3 - Ship Hull Integration completed

    2. Milestone

      1. Ship 2 - Ship Handover

        Ship 2 - Ship Handover

  17. 2016

    1. Milestone

      1. Ship 3 - Ship Handover

        Ship 3 - Ship Handover

  18. 2017

  19. 2018

  20. 2019

 
 
 
 
 

SITE UPDATED: 13 Aug 2010