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The sovereign engineering design capabilities of Navantia Australia have been put on display with a recent weapons test involving HMAS Sydney.
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HMAS Sydney, one Australia’s most capable warships, recently demonstrated the first successful firing of a Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile (NSM) from a Hobart Class guided missile destroyer (DDG), during the recent Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) joint exercise with allied navies.
The Naval Strike Missile Weapon System replaced the ageing Harpoon Weapon System and will be replaced in time on the remaining Hobart Class DDGs.
The platform engineering design effort of this project was led and completed by the Navantia Australia Naval Design and Engineering Centre (DEC) in Melbourne.
Significant collaboration was undertaken between Navantia Australia and Raytheon Australia, DDG System Program Office, DDG Managing Contractor, Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace, and the SEA 1300 Project Office.
Speaking at the recent Indian Ocean Defence and Security Conference in Perth, the Chief of Navy of the Royal Australian Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, praised the rapid integration of this capability onto the DDGs, stating that the NSM integration is “the fastest introduction into service of long-range missile capability in our Navy today”.
Navantia Australia is the design authority for the Hobart Class guided missile destroyers and is responsible for maintaining the design integrity of the ship’s baseline configuration.
Technology transfer of the Hobart Class, and the over 1 million hours of effort which went into adapting the F-100 design for Australian requirements in 2018, is the largest and most valuable transfer of intellectual property in the history of Australian defence industry by any company to date.
Having control and ownership of this intellectual property in Australia through Navantia Australia provides sovereign control over the future development of Australia’s naval capability.
Being able to use this intellectual property while drawing on Navantia’s centuries of experience provides Australia with its best opportunity to build its own sovereign industry.
Jamie Gibbs, chief operations officer for Navantia Australia, said there was no shortage of hurdles on this extremely accelerated task, and some international time zone differences did not provide great benefit.
“The engineering effort conducted by our teams in the DEC alone, and in collaboration with organisations in Australia and abroad, was notably completed in less than 18 months,” said Gibbs.
“This is a testament to the work ethic, collaboration, and determination of Navantia Australia’s sovereign engineering design capability to ensure this important lethality could be deployed by the Royal Australian Navy.
“All who contributed to this project should be very proud of their efforts throughout the project. This represents a step change capability not only for the Hobart Class but also for the capabilities of Navantia Australia and the work we do to provide such upgrades to our RAN.”
Navantia Australia designs, integrates, and supports naval maritime platforms and systems for the Royal Australian Navy.
The company has been recognised as a design authority by the Commonwealth of Australia for the Canberra Class landing helicopter docks and landing craft, Hobart Class guided missile destroyers, and Supply Class auxiliary oiler replenishment ships.
Navantia Australia has also affirmed their commitment to growing a local workforce and linking to the Australian supply chain to best support the growth of a truly Australian naval shipbuilding and sustainment industry.
