The term 'Air Warfare Destroyer' (AWD – NATO Designation DDG) is used to describe ships dedicated to the defence of accompanying ships, coastal land forces and coastal infrastructure from aircraft and missile attack. The Hobart Class AWDs carry a helicopter for surveillance, conduct surface and undersea warfare and naval gunfire capabilities.
Our workforce at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide has provided shipbuilding capability to the AWD Alliance for more than a decade. Ship blocks were built at BAE Systems' shipyard in Williamstown, Victoria, before being transported to Osborne for outfitting and consolidation.
The lead ship, HMAS Hobart, was commissioned into service in 2017, followed by HMAS Brisbane in 2018 and HMAS Sydney in 2020. BAE Systems Australia is currently undertaking sustainment work as the three destroyers have transitioned into service.
BAE Systems’ core capabilities
BAE Systems Australia is proud to have more than 2500 employees across Australia dedicated to delivering intelligent, capable and available assets to the Royal Australian Navy. During our 65-year history, we have consistently played a leading role in delivery through every phase of the naval capability life cycle, from design through to disposal.
What we do
Shipbuilding
Since 2017, BAE Systems Australia has been the designated managing contractor for the Hobart Class AWD transition into service, as well as acting as a trusted advisor and implementing a through-life sustainment capability strategy. As part of this role, we drive capability outcomes on behalf of the DDG enterprise by coordinating and collaborating with industry partners, the Commonwealth and the RAN to deliver complex engineering, supply and maintenance services to the RAN.
Platform sustainment
Co-located with the Customer at Garden Island in Sydney, BAE Systems Australia is the Transition Support Period (TSP) Managing Contractor (MC) who delivers and manages the sustainment work as the three destroyers are delivered and transitioned into service. The lead ship, HMAS Hobart, was commissioned into service in 2017, followed by HMAS Brisbane in 2018 and HMAS Sydney in 2020.
Technology training
Advanced technology training is and has been required across all three Air Warfare Destroyers to ensure the Royal Australian Navy are confident with the modern sonar systems, decoys, surface-launch torpedoes and close-in defence weapons on board the ships.
Future technologies
The Hobart Class is equipped with modern sonar systems, decoys, surface-launched torpedoes and an array of effective close-in defensive weapons. These capabilities ensure that the Hobart Class have the layered defensive and offensive capability required to counter conventional and asymmetric threats.
