HMAS Ballarat Concludes Anti-Ship Missile Defence Upgrade

Australian Navy’s Anzac-class frigate HMAS Ballarat recently completed her on-dock production activities associated with the Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) upgrade.

Ballarat has now been returned to the Material Control of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and will commence setting to work systems and sea trials.

Ballarat was undocked on September 2 at the BAE Systems Henderson, WA, shipyard after 56 weeks on the hardstand as part of the ASMD upgrade and vital maintenance work, involving some 600,000 hours by 250 employees and 30 local subcontractors.

Under the ASMD program, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is receiving a world leading defence capability. The combat management system is being upgraded and an infrared search and track system is being introduced as well as a phased array radar and dual navigation radar system. While the ships are on the hard stand for the ASMD upgrade, other complex engineering and structural changes are being made to the frigates. These include enclosing the quarterdeck and modifications to accommodate the MH-60 Romeo naval helicopters.

Ballarat will now be berthed at Henderson to conduct systems set to works and Harbour Trials. The BAE Systems Henderson facility will continue to focus on the ASMD upgrade program. Work on HMAS Parramatta will continue, and preparations to dock HMAS Toowoomba next month (the seventh ANZAC frigate to enter the ASMD program) are escalating.

The work was completed through the Anzac Ship Integrated Material Support Program Alliance comprising BAE Systems, Saab Systems and the Department of Defence Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG). The program is on-track to be completed in 2017 and will include upgrades to a further three vessels, including HMAS Parramatta, Toowoomba and Stuart.

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Image: BAE Systems