Country of origin |
Australia |
Entered service |
2017 |
Crew |
202 men |
Sea endurance |
? |
Dimensions and displacement |
Length |
147.2 m |
Beam |
18.6 m |
Draught |
5.17
m |
Displacement, standard |
? |
Displacement, full load |
6 890 tons |
Propulsion and speed |
Speed |
28 knots |
Range |
9 300 km at 18 knots |
Propulsion |
CODOG propulsion. 2 x gas turbines (47 000 shp)
and 2 x diesel engines (15 160 shp), driving two shafts |
Airwing |
Helicopters |
1 x MH-60R Seahawk |
Armament |
Artillery |
1 x 127 mm gun, 1 x 20 mm Phalanx CIWS, 2 x
25 mm cannons |
Missiles |
48-cell VLS with RIM-66 Standard 2 and RIM-162
ESSM air defense missiles, 8 x Harpoon anti-ship missiles |
Torpedoes |
2 x twin 324 mm torpedo launchers for MU90
torpedoes |
|
The Australian Hobart
class of anti-air warfare destroyers was designed in Spain by
Navantia. It is based on the Spanish
Alvaro de Bazan class frigate. Though the Hobart class warships
are larger. Three ships are planned by the Royal
Australian Navy. These are being constructed in Australia. The lead
ship, HMAS Hobart, was commissioned in 2017. The second vessel, HMAS
Brisbane followed in 2018. These new warships
will replace the older Adelaide class
frigates.
The main
role of the Hobart class is to escort expeditionary naval force and
provide long-range air defense and anti-missile protection.
Secondary tasks are anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare.
The Hobart
class destroyers are technologically advanced. These warships are fitted with
Lockheed Martin SPY-1D(V) Aegis radar.
The Aegis is a world class air defense combat system. It is in
service with the US Navy. It is also present on
Spain's
Alvaro de Bazan class frigates, Japan's
Atago
class and
Kongo
class destroyers, and South Korea's
Sejong the Great class destroyers.
The Aegis radar can detect air targets at a range of over 300 km. It
can track hundreds of targets simultaneously. The system controls
the detection and engagement of hostile
threats. Hobart class destroyers are also fitted with secure tactical data system for communication with other
naval assets. Most likely that Hobart class warships are linked to
the US Aegis ballistic defense system.
The Hobart
class is fitted with a 48-cell Mk.14 Vertical Launch System (VLS).
It is armed with a combination of RIM-66 Standard 2 long-range
surface-to-air missiles and RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow (ESSM) point
defense missiles.
The ships
are also fitted with
Harpoon
anti-ship missiles. There are two 4-canister launchers.
The Harpoon has a range of 120 km, a 220 kg warhead and and active
radar and thermal guidance. Additionally, the Hobart class is fitted
with a 127 mm Mk.45 gun for shore and anti-ship bombardment. It has
a maximum range of 23.6 km. The gun has a radar/electro-optic fire
control system.
Anti-submarine capabilities are provided via two twin Mk.32 324 mm
torpedo launchers for Eurotorp MU90 torpedoes. Submarine detection
is provided by an integrated active and passive sonar system.
For close-in
defense the ships carry a single aft-facing 20 mm Phalanx Close-In
Weapon System (CIWS), plus two 25 mm M242 Bushmaster cannons in
Typhoon mounts.
The Hobart
class warships can accommodate a single MH-60R Seahawk naval
helicopter. Its primary missions are anti-submarine warfare and
anti-surface warfare. Secondary tasks are surveillance,
communication relay, combat search and rescue, naval gunfire support
and logistic missions.
Ship's countermeasures suite includes decoy launchers.
It is likely that the ships are also fitted with
an acoustic torpedo countermeasures system.
These
destroyers have a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion.
It is slightly more powerful than than of the Alvaro de Bazan.
Machinery includes two General Electric LM 2500 gas turbines,
developing a combined output of 47 000 shp, and two Caterpillar
diesel engines, developing a combined output of 15 160 shp. Powerplants
are mounted on anti-vibration mounts to reduce noise. The Hobart
class ships have a top speed of 28 knots (52 km/h). Standard range
is 5 000 nautical miles (9 260 km) at 18 knots (33 km/h). Australian
warships have a longer range than their Spanish predecessors, as the
endurance was important for Australian operating conditions.
The Hobart
class is operated by a crew of 202 men, including aircrew. It can
accommodate a total of 234 sailors.
Name |
Laid down |
Launched |
Commissioned |
Status |
Hobart
(39) |
2009 |
2015 |
2017 |
active, in
service |
Brisbane
(41) |
2014 |
2016 |
2018 |
active, in
service |
Sydney
(42) |
2015 |
2018 |
expected
in 2019-2020 |
sea trials |
|