Lockheed tests Aegis on Australian destroyer
Lockheed Martin has commenced the integration and testing of the Aegis combat system aboard Royal Australian Navy’s air warfare destroyer (AWD), HMAS Hobart, it announced on 30 March.
The company's team of technicians and engineers will facilitate the combat system's testing and ensure that the system is properly installed and functional. Australia's Hobart class will be its first ships to be equipped with the Aegis system and SPY-1D(V) radar.
Rob Milligan, surface ships program lead, Lockheed Martin Australia, said: ‘The Lockheed Martin team has successfully brought Aegis to life. Our team is dedicated to ensuring the successful delivery of Hobart’s Aegis capability to the Royal Australian Navy.’
‘We strengthened the AWD test team which now includes experienced Lockheed Martin engineers and technicians from both Australia and the US to conduct the Aegis combat systems integration.’
Cmdre Craig Bourke, CSC, Program Manager Air Warfare Destroyer, Australian Navy, said: ‘This milestone is a significant step towards an increase in the Royal Australian Navy’s maritime security capabilities through the seamless integration of the Aegis combat system to defend against advanced air, surface and subsurface threats.’
The Hobart class destroyers are being built through Australia’s SEA 4000 programme, under which three advanced multirole ships will be delivered. Australia has ordered the baseline 8 configuration of the Aegis weapon system that features open architecture and commercial-off-the-shelf technology.
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