HMAS Stuart enters ASMD upgrade

The Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Stuart Anzac-class frigate has entered the Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) upgrade, with the vessel now docked at the BAE Systems Australia Henderson shipyard in Western Australia.

As part of the upgrade, the ship's two mast modules will be removed, modified and replaced, the ship will be blasted back and repainted, and an upgraded Saab Systems Mk3E system will be installed. Fibre optic cables will be installed extensively across the vessel for the CEA phased array radar and other sensors to communicate with the new combat system.

The frigate will return to sea after the upgrade in early March 2017. It is expected to undergo sea and harbour trials in October 2017, after which it will return to service.

HMAS Stuart is the final ship of class to enter the upgrade programme.

Lt Cdr Felicity Petrie, upgrade program delivery manager, Royal Australian Navy, said: ‘This represents the completion of a significant body of work by a number of navy personnel and civilian contractors across the Anzac fleet. Stuart’s upgrade will signal the end of the ‘classic’ configuration and herald a new era in navy capability.

‘The operations room will be completely overhauled, bringing the entire Anzac fleet up to current standards for ergonomics and information display.’