HMAS Sydney (DDG 42) — Australia’s 3rd Air Warfare Destroyer Completes Sea Trials
On November 9, 2019, the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) announced the completion of sea trials for the future HMAS Sydney (DDG 42)/NUSHIP Sydney (V). It is the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) third and final 7,000-ton Hobart-class Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD), which comes with layered defensive and offensive capabilities — required to counter conventional and asymmetric threats.
AWD Alliance includes the Department of Defence (DoD), Raytheon Australia, and ASC Shipbuilding supported by Navantia Australia.
HMAS Sydney is based on the Navantia designed F100 frigate and is coupled with the Aegis Combat System. The keel was laid down on November 19, 2015, and launched on May 19, 2018, by Mrs. Judy Shalders in Osborne, South Australia. The ship began sea trials in September 2019 and She is scheduled to be commissioned in May 2020.
According to RAN, “NUSHIP Sydney (V) will provide air defense for accompanying ships in addition to land forces and infrastructure in coastal areas, and for self-protection against missiles and aircraft. The Aegis Combat System incorporating the state-of-the-art phased array radar, AN/SPY 1D(V), in combination with the SM-2 missile, will provide an advanced air defense system capable of engaging enemy aircraft and missiles at ranges in excess of 150km.”
HMAS Sydney will carry an MH-60R helicopter for surveillance operations and will provide necessary responses to “support key warfare areas”. The surface warfare function will include long-range anti-ship missiles and a naval gun capable of firing extended range munitions in support of land forces.
It will also conduct undersea warfare and be equipped with modern sonar systems, decoys, surface-launched torpedoes and an array of effective close-in defensive weapons.
NOTE: The first-of-class HMAS Hobart was commissioned in September 2017 and the second ship, HMAS Brisbane was commissioned in October 2018.
Technical Specifications Of HMAS Sydney (DDG 42)
Dimensions & Displacement
- Displacement — 7,000 tonnes (full load)
- Length — 146.7 meters
- Beam — 18.6 meters
- Draught — 7.2 meters
Performance Parameters
- Speed — 28+ knots (top speed)
- Range — 4,500 nautical miles (18 knots)
Propulsion Systems
- 2 x General Electric Marine model 7LM2500-SA-MLG38 gas turbines, 17,500 kilowatts (23,500 hp) each
- 2 x Caterpillar Bravo 16 V Bravo diesel engines, 5,650 kilowatts (7,580 hp) each
Armament
Missiles — Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (48 VLS Cells), RIM-66 Standard 2 missile, RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow missile and Advanced Harpoon via 2 x quad launchers
Guns — Mk 45 5” 62 Calibre Gun
Torpedoes — MU90 Torpedo
Other Armaments — 2 x 25mm M242 Bushmaster on Typhoon mounts and 1 x Phalanx CIWS
Physical Countermeasures — NULKA Active Missile Decoy system
Radars — AN/SPY-1D (V) Phased Array RadarHorizon Search Radar
Sonars — Integrated Sonar System incorporating a Hull Mounted and towed array sonar
Combat Data Systems — Aegis (Baseline 7.1)Helicopters1 x MH-60R Seahawk
