Third AWD embarks on sea trials
The Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) third Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD), Sydney, has begun its first phase of sea trials, the Australian Department of Defence announced on 16 September.
The trials will test the ship’s hull, propulsion and navigation systems. A more advanced phase of trials will then begin in October to test the ship’s combat and communications systems in preparation for delivery in 2020.
Sydney is the RAN’s third and final Hobart class AWD being built under the SEA 4000 procurement programme
Minister for Defence, Linda Reynolds, said: ‘Over the past decade, more than 5,000 people from across the Department of Defence, ASC, Raytheon Australia and Navantia have dedicated millions of hours of work towards delivering the most capable warships ever to be operated by the RAN.
‘This is underpinned by over 2,700 suppliers who have supported the AWD Alliance in its efforts to expand Australian industry capability for the overall programme.’
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