Hobart set to enter builder’s trials
The future HMAS Hobart is set to enter builder’s trials this month off the coast of South Australia, the Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance announced in September.
The vessel will be put through trials to demonstrate the functionality of the ship’s propulsion, manoeuvrability, auxiliary, control and navigation systems. The ship will be operated under the command of a civilian master and crew, augmented by specialists from the alliance and key equipment suppliers who will perform the system testing and trials.
Prior to trials beginning the alliance will conduct a comprehensive assessment to ensure the safety of the ship, embarked personnel, the environment and other seafarers. This assessment is defined as the Alliance Sea Trials Release Process and has three major steps; the Sea Worthiness Assessment, Ship Sea Trials Release and Sea Readiness Confirmation.
In the lead up to Builder Sea Trials the AWD Alliance continues to complete a number of important alongside dock trials to test ships systems before it departs to sea for the first time. Tests include inclining trials to measure the ship’s stability and vertical centre of gravity, and bollard trials to test the ship’s propulsion system.
Following Builder’s Sea Trials, in early 2017 Hobart will undertake further trials to test and demonstrate the ship’s more advanced systems and the combat system performance.
Hobart is the first of three new Hobart-class air warfare destroyers being built for the Royal Australian Navy.
More from Naval Warfare
-
Australian industry programme builds pipeline for Virginia-class sustainment
Australian businesses can now bid to support Virginia-class submarine sustainment in Western Australia, as momentum around the Henderson Defence Precinct also builds.
-
South Korea, Japan and Turkey vie for US shipbuilding access in future frigate contest
Washington’s search for a foreign-built frigate could hand South Korea, Japan and Turkey a larger prize than a double-hull order: a foothold inside the US shipbuilding industrial base.
-
Russia’s uncrewed boat portfolio hints at future naval demand
Ukrainian intelligence has catalogued more than 20 Russian uncrewed surface vessels, revealing a portfolio weighted towards mine warfare and logistics, with implications for Western naval investment.
-
Ukraine’s new long-range 12m autonomous vessel can deploy other drones
Ukraine’s UForce unveiled the MV11 uncrewed surface vessel, designed to launch and support other naval drones at sea, fuelling debate over the future of autonomous maritime task groups.
-
German Navy’s Israeli missile test points to deepening defence-industrial ties
The test-firing of an Israel Aerospace Industries LORA ballistic missile from a German vessel highlights the Bundeswehr’s focus on speed to capability as it trials Israel’s operationally proven technology.