HMAS Warramunga completes anti-ship missile defence upgrade programme

The Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Anzac-class frigate HMAS Warramunga is set to resume operations after completing the anti-ship missile defence upgrade programme.

During the upgrade, the vessel received design and integration capability with new Phased Array Radar technology designed by CEA Technologies in Canberra.

Upgrades to the ship’s combat systems and platform integration design were carried out by Saab Systems in South Australia and BAE Systems in Victoria.

In addition, HMAS Warramunga completed a substantial maintenance package, which to ensures the ship meets seaworthy requirements.

Warramunga has also become the first fleet unit to be painted in the new ‘Haze Grey’ paint scheme, the new polysiloxane paint that offers durability and fire resistance qualities over the older polyurethane paints.

On 31 March, the naming ceremony of the vessel took place at Fleet Base West to recognise the official transfer of the ship’s company from HMAS Parramatta to HMAS Warramunga.

The vessel will now remain at Fleet Base West to complete the maintenance package and the long process of Harbour Acceptance Trials and seaworthiness boards.

After completing the trials, Warramunga will return to its new home port, Sydney, in September.

The ten Anzac-class frigates, which is a result of the Australian / New Zealand frigate building project, is based on the Blohm + Voss Meko 200 modular design. These frigates are armed with one eight-cell mk41 vertical launching system for Nato Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missiles.

The Australian Department of Defence announced a project to upgrade the Anzac-class anti-ship missile defences (ASMD) in December 2003.

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Image: HMAS Warramunga completes its cold move from the BAE Systems Henderson Shipyard arriving alongside Oxley Wharf at Fleet Base West. Photo: courtesy of Royal Australian Navy.