Australian Navy’s third AWD launched
The Australian Navy’s third and final Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD), the future HMAS Sydney, has been launched at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia, Navantia announced on 19 May.
The new vessel will join the second AWD, Brisbane, alongside the wharf at the Osborne Naval Shipyard.
All the three AWD vessels – Hobart, Brisbane and Sydney – are capable of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) as well as air-defence capabilities against both aircraft and cruise missile threats.
Michael Ward, managing director at Raytheon Australia, said that the vessels contain Australia's 'most advanced and complex' combat system, delivered on time and on budget.
'The AWD combat system integration activities represent some of the most advanced and complex engineering and project management skills in this country,' he added.
More from Naval Warfare
-
Future of the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke programme remains unclear
The US Navy does not have a precise date for the award of the procurement contract for the third Arleigh Burke-class destroyer despite having the funds to advance with the programme in FY2025.
-
US Navy may look to foreign suppliers to accelerate shipbuilding programmes
The US Navy (USN) is currently reassessing its acquisition efforts and seeking ways to reduce the multiple delays across the shipbuilding initiatives.
-
Australia commissions HMAS Arafura three-and-a-half years behind schedule
The Royal Australian Navy has finally commissioned the first Arafura-class offshore patrol vessel – more than three years behind schedule – highlighting the programme’s delays, design compromises and ongoing industrial restructuring.
-
Italy orders two ships as work begins on others along with deliveries and updates
The Italian Navy is being refreshed with two new ships ordered, while in the past six months steel was cut for a new frigate, an enhanced frigate was delivered and Horizon-class frigates passed a design review.
-
US Navy foresees additional delays in the Columbia-class programme
After estimating that the first Columbia-class submarine would be delivered 16 months late, the US Navy has recently confirmed that an additional month will be required to complete its construction.