 HMAS Hobart in December 2017
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Hobart class |
| Builders |
|
| Operators |  Royal Australian Navy |
| Preceded by | Perth-class destroyer and Adelaide-class frigate |
| Cost | |
| Built | 2009–2020 |
| In commission | 2017–present |
| Planned | 3 |
| Active | 3 |
| General characteristics (as designed) | |
| Type | Guided-missile destroyer |
| Displacement | 7,000 tonnes (6,900 long tons; 7,700 short tons) full load |
| Length | 147.2 metres (483 ft) |
| Beam | 18.6 metres (61 ft) maximum |
| Draught | 5.17 metres (17.0 ft) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | Over 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph) |
| Range | Over 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) |
| Complement |
|
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Electronic warfare & decoys |
|
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 1 × MH-60R Seahawk |
The Hobart class is a ship class of three air warfare destroyers (AWDs) built for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Planning for ships to replace the Adelaide-class frigates and restore the capability last exhibited by the Perth-class destroyers began by 2000, initially under acquisition project SEA 1400, which was re-designated SEA 4000. Although the designation "Air Warfare Destroyer" is used to describe ships dedicated to the defence of a naval force (plus assets ashore) from aircraft and missile attack, the destroyers are expected to also operate in anti-surface, anti-submarine, and naval gunfire support roles.
Planning for the Australian Air Warfare Destroyer (as the class was known until 2006) continued through the mid-2000s, with the selection of the Aegis combat system as the intended combat system and ASC Pty Ltd (ASC) as the primary shipbuilder in 2005. In late 2005, the AWD Alliance was formed as a consortium of the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO), ASC, and Raytheon. Between 2005 and 2007, Gibbs & Cox's Evolved Arleigh Burke-class destroyer concept and Navantia's Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate competed for selection as the AWD design. Although the Arleigh Burke design was larger and more capable, the Álvaro de Bazán design was selected in June 2007 as it was an existing design and would be cheaper, quicker, and less risky to build.
Three ships were ordered in October 2007, and were assembled at ASC's facility in Osborne, South Australia, from 31 pre-fabricated modules (or 'blocks'). An option to build a fourth destroyer was included in the original contract but was not exercised. ASC, NQEA Australia, and Forgacs Group were selected in May 2009 to build the blocks, but within two months, NQEA was replaced by BAE Systems Australia. Construction errors and growing delays led the AWD Alliance to redistribute the construction workload in 2011, with some modules to be built by Navantia. Increasing slippage pushed the original planned 2014-2016 commissioning dates out by at least three years, with lead ship Hobart to be completed by June 2017, Brisbane in September 2018, and Sydney by March 2020. The AWD Alliance, Navantia, and the involved shipyards were criticised for underestimating risks, costs, and timeframes; faulty drawings and bad building practices leading to repeated manufacturing errors; and blame-passing. The alliance concept was panned for having no clear management structure or entity in charge, and having the DMO simultaneously acting as supplier, build partner, and customer for the ships.[citation needed]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
originalcostwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Control of troubled warship project to go to tender as costs hit $9b". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 22 May 2015.
- ^ Auditor General Report 2020-21
- ^ "The Hobart Class Air Warfare Destroyer: Welcome to the fleet" (PDF). lockheedmartin.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 May 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
- ^ https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releases/2024-08-10/navy-conducts-firing-standard-missile-6-part-government-push-provide-adf-enhanced-capabilities [bare URL]