Australian Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

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May 31, 2018
and now
Australian Navy receives second air warfare destroyer ‘Brisbane’

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The second of the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) three Hobart-class air warfare destroyers (AWDs) will enter service on 27 October, Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne has announced.

The announcement was made as NUSHIP Brisbane (with pennant number 41) arrived for the first time at its home base of Fleet Base East – at Sydney’s Garden Island – on 10 September.

The move comes after the 146.7 m-long ship, which began builder’s sea trials in November 2017, was officially handed over to the RAN on 27 July.

Australia’s first AWD, HMAS Hobart , was accepted and commissioned into service in 2017, while the third ship, Sydney , was launched at Osborne in May and is set to be handed over to the RAN in December 2019 following sea trials.

The RAN’s Adelaide-class (US Oliver Hazard Perry design) frigates, of which only two remain in service, are being retired to make way for the Hobart-class AWDs, which provide the service with an improved warfighting capability.

Based on Navantia’s F-100 Alvaro de Bazan-class frigate design (with a number of Australian-specific modifications), the Hobart class deploys the Aegis combat system incorporating the AN/SPY 1D(V) phased array radar.

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The Royal Australian Air Force’s No. 3 squadron has received its first Lockheed Martin F-35A, the first RAAF aircraft not earmarked for the Luke AFB International Pilot Training Centre.

This is the RAAF’s ninth F-35A, with the others being used to training at Luke, says Australia’s Department of Defence.

"It is an exciting time for Air Combat Group as we transition to F-35A operations over the next few years,” says Air Commodore Michael Kitcher. “While there are challenges ahead, particularly as we prepare for the conduct of Australian-based operations next year, I am confident we are well placed to manage the transition."

The RAAF accepted the jet, A35-009, at Luke AFB in early September. No. 3 Squadron operates the Boeing F/A-18 A/B “Classic” Hornet, which the RAAF will retire.

It follows the first dropping of ordinance from another RAAF F-35A, A35-006, on 20 July. The activity took place at the Barry M. Goldwater Range in Arizona, and saw the F-35 drop two inert GBU-31v3 JDAM GPS-guided bomb which scored direct hits on their targets.

The RAAF aims to achieve initial operating capability with the type in December 2020. IOC will include weapons such as the Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM medium-range missile, AIM-9X Sidewinder missile, JDAMs, small diameter bombs, and the internal 25mm cannon.

Australia operates 55 single seat F/A-18As and 16 two-seat F/A-18Bs that were acquired in the 1980s. This fleet will be retired by 2022 in favour of the F-35A, of which Canberra has committed to acquiring 72 examples.

Canada will obtain up to 25 surplus RAAF F/A-18 A/Bs, of which 18 will be used to fill a capability gap while Ottawa decides on its next fighter aircraft. Seven will be used for non-flying activities such as software testing, static training, and spares.

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Jura said:

Jul 27, 2018in case you didn't know
RAN’s second Air Warfare Destroyer to enter service in late October
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Jura said:

now noticed at Jane's (dated 12 December 2017)
Naval Group issues RFIs in support of Australian submarine programme

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, a French shipbuilder, sought to play down media reports of a potential collapse of talks for a major contract with Australia for 12 ocean-going submarines, with elections looming next year in the Commonwealth nation.

“We are in the process of pursuing the strategic partnering agreement,” a Naval Group spokesman told Defense News. That agreement covers some 30 years and is an extremely close commitment, he added.

“It is plain logic that that takes time,” he said. “We are not particularly worried. We remain confident."

Naval Group is working under a 2016 design and mobilization

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, while negotiating the strategic partnering agreement. The latter is a critical contract which moves the French company closer to building the diesel-electric boats in Adelaide under an Australian $50 billion (U.S. $36 billion) deal.

There is concern that failure to reach consensus on intellectual property and warranty conditions have held up a signing of the strategic partnering agreement, with time running out, Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

“Negotiations on that document have stalled and it is feared they may not be resolved before next year’s federal election,” ABC reported. Signing the strategic partnering agreement by the end of this year is needed to allow detailed design contracts to be finalized and building of the boats, the broadcaster reported.

In Australia, Defense Minister Christopher Pyne sought to calm the waters with an Oct. 1 reply on social media.

“There is no delay to the delivery of 12 Future Submarines. Negotiation of strategic partnering agreement is continuing & we will ensure we end up with an equitable & enduring agreement to deliver the capability our servicemen & women need, and get the best deal for Australian taxpayer.”

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The Australian government announced on October 4 the signing of an interim contract with BAE Systems Australia for the Royal Australian Navy’s Hunter-class frigate program.

The Advanced Work Arrangement (AWA) will cover ongoing work on the $35 billion program, ahead of agreeing the head contract.

Australian defense minister Christopher Pyne said the AWA is an important first step in the process of transitioning ASC Shipbuilding into BAE Systems in preparation for the nation’s biggest shipbuilding program.

“The AWA is an interim contract which enables BAE Systems to continue to mobilize its workforce and progress the critical work required to ensure the project remains on track to start production in 2020,” minister Pyne said.

“The process of transitioning ASC Shipbuilding into BAE Systems is well underway, and ASC Shipbuilding, BAE Systems and the Department of Finance are making good progress in negotiations.”

Work continues on negotiating the Head Contract for the program, with signature expected later in the year, after the ASC Shipbuilding transition is completed.

Defence will execute the Head Contract with ASC Shipbuilding – as a wholly owned subsidiary of BAE Systems – for the delivery of the navy’s nine Hunter-class frigates and associated support system components.

The project to build a total of nine Aegis-equipped frigates is worth an estimated A$35bn and will replace the existing fleet of Anzac-class frigates. BAE’s GCS design – on which the frigates will be based – is 149,9 meters long, displaces 6,900 tons and carries a 24-cell Mk41 vertical launch system. The Australian frigates will be fitted with CEAFAR 2 phased array radar and the Lockheed Martin-built AEGIS combat system.

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Jura said:

Jul 27, 2018in case you didn't know
RAN’s second Air Warfare Destroyer to enter service in late October
... and the rest is behind paywall at Jane's:

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Click to expand...