RAN’s HMAS Hobart tests communications capability with USS John Finn

The Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) first Hobart-class guided-missile destroyer HMAS Hobart has tested communications capabilities with the US Navy for the first time.

Carried out in Hawaii, the test demonstrated the Australian ship’s ability to share sensor information and real-time combat system data with the US Navy.

Australian Defence Minister Christopher Pyne said that the trials were designed and carried out to test, evaluate and qualify the combat and weapons systems installed on HMAS Hobart.

Pyne said: “These trials are the culmination of 12 months of preparations and demonstrate Hobart’s formidable capability.

“Australia is the first country outside the US with cooperative engagement capability, and so this demonstration marked the first time this Capability was proven between two navies.”

During training and testing, the air warfare destroyer could effectively establish secure data links with the US Arleigh Burke-class USS John Finn (DDG-113) and share tracking and fire control data across the two vessels.

HMAS Hobart commanding officer captain John Stavridis said: “Connecting and sharing data with the US Navy like this is an important step in increasing our interoperability with them, especially during linked task group operations at sea.

“Sharing information like this between ships at sea means that ships in a task group can know and respond to what is going on, including sharing tracking and targeting data.

“It means that a ship can detect and, if needed, engage a threat identified by another ship or aircraft, creating greater flexibility and better protection for all the ships involved.”

In September last year, HMAS Hobart was commissioned into service with the Australian Navy during a formal ceremony at Garden Island in Sydney.