BAE Systems wins RAN ANZAC ASMD contract

The Australian Department of Defence has selected BAE Systems to carry out an upgrade of the seven remaining Royal Australian Navy ANZAC class frigates, with the Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) capability already implemented on the first of class, HMAS Perth.

The contract, worth AUD $270 million, will be completed through the ANZAC Ship Integrated Material Support Program Alliance comprising BAE Systems, Saab Systems and the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO).

The contract follows the end of a comprehensive testing programme carried out on HMAS Perth for the ASMD programme. According to the Australian government, the weapon will bring a new level of capabilities to the fleet.  Rather than be able to track and destroy one target at a time, the new system is able to identify, track and guide missiles to multiple targets at the same time.

The upgrade will include ship integration of the leading edge CEA Phased Array Radar (PAR), the Vampir NG Infrared Search & Track (IRST) system, the Sharpeye Navigation Radar System (NRS), and an upgraded Saab Combat Management System (CMS) including an improved operations room layout.

According to BAE Systems, project management and planning for ship two will begin immediately with fabrication set to begin early June next year and installation to commence in the fourth quarter of 2012.