BAE Systems has received two separate contracts to continue support for the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Anzac-class Anti-Ship Missile Defence Follow On (ASMD FON) project and the Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD).
Under the $65m Anzac ASMD FON contract, BAE will provide solid ballast installation, enclosure of the quarter deck and install a new solid waste management system, as well as a new high-frequency broadband system.
BAE will also upgrade from Link 11 to Anzac Multi-Link Upgrade Link 16 system, replace existing fire alarm system and extant gas turbine uptake exhaust system, as well as install new gas bottle stowage to co-exist with enclosure of quarter deck.
As part of a separate $65m contract, the company will provide all LHD crew training at the Contractor Temporary Training Facility, which is currently undergoing construction at Mascot, New South Wales, Australia.
In addition to training, BAE will also deliver spares and loose items in support of the Canberra-class LHD ships for the RAN.
BAE Systems Australia director maritime Bill Saltzer said that the company would proceed with the integration of combat and communication systems since all four superstructure blocks of the first LHD are now on the LHD deck.
Work under the Anzac-class ASMD FON project will be performed at the Henderson shipyard in Western Australia.
The 118m-long Anzac-class frigates vessel have a displacement capacity of 3,600t, a speed of 27k, with a maximum range of 11,000km and can accommodate a crew of 163.
The 230m-long Canberra-class LHDs will be armed with four 20mm automated guns, six 12.7mm machine guns, anti-torpedo towed defence system, and Nulka active missile decoy system.
Image: Australia’s eighth Anzac-class frigate, HMAS Perth. Photo: courtesy of Gnangarra – commons.wikimedia.org.