HMAS Hobart completes builders sea trials
HMAS Hobart, the lead ship of the new Hobart class of Air Warfare Destroyers (AWDs) for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), has completed its builder sea trials off the South Australian coast.
This marks the latest milestone for the vessel, bringing it closer to final delivery to the RAN. Ship build began in January 2010, followed by hull consolidation in March 2014 and launch in May 2015.
The second destroyer of this class, HMAS Brisbane, will enter the water following its scheduled launch in December 2016. Hull consolidation of the third AWD, Sydney, is scheduled to take place in August 2017.
The AWD Alliance building the ships includes ASC, Raytheon Australia as the combat systems integrator and the Australian Department of Defence's (DoD) Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group.
The team will now continue consolidating and outfitting the remaining two destroyers. HMAS Hobart will undergo further sea trials in early 2017 to test its advanced combat system, followed by delivery of the destroyer to the DoD in June 2017.
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