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Lockheed Martin Australia has successfully delivered the SEA 4000 Phase 6 Combat System Design Agent contract on time and within budget, ahead of the planned Aegis Combat System upgrades for the Royal Australian Navy’s Hobart Class guided missile destroyers.
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As part of the proposed upgrades under the Combat System Design Agent (CSD-A) contract, Lockheed Martin Australia delivered advanced combat systems engineering services as a part of the Aegis Baseline 9 DDG upgrade.
Lockheed Martin’s work performed included successful completion of system requirements review, incremental design reviews, conduct of DDG platform physical configuration audits and creation of a combat information centre 3D virtual environment that delivers a vivid user-friendly visual representation of the combat system compartments to the RAN operators.
Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand chief executive Warren McDonald said, “I commend the Royal Australian Navy on commencing the design work for the critical upgrades to the Hobart Class Destroyers’ Aegis Combat System.
“The Aegis upgrades will ensure Australia keeps pace with the US Navy’s Aegis modernisation program, increases combat system lethality, and advances interoperability with our allies across the Indo-Pacific region,” McDonald added.
Lockheed Martin Australia’s Integrated Warfare Systems and Sensors Line of Business lead Rob Milligan said, “Lockheed Martin Australia is extremely proud of this contract completion. We worked hand-in-hand with the Department of Defence, the Royal Australian Navy and industry partners Navantia Australia, Saab Australia, and Relegen to achieve key DDG upgrade design milestones.”
Lockheed Martin Australia achieved these outcomes through close and continual engagement with the RAN, Department of Defence Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Group (NSSG) and working with industry partners.
“This outcome is a demonstration of Lockheed Martin Australia’s sustained mission focus to effectively deliver on the Royal Australian Navy’s operational priorities. As the Australian industry custodian of Aegis, we look forward to continue working with the Royal Australian Navy, NSSG, industry partners, and the US Navy to ensure the ongoing presence of the Aegis Combat System in Australia,” Milligan explained.
Lockheed Martin’s Baseline 9 Combat System upgrades will allow for a single Aegis-equipped warship to concurrently conduct ballistic missile defence and air defence operations and has been considered the most significant baseline upgrade since the delivery of the Aegis Combat System.
Centred around the AN/SPY-1 radar, Aegis is a fully integrated combat system, providing full 360-degree 3D tracking capacity. Aegis is capable of simultaneously defending against attack from land targets, submarines, and surface ships while automatically protecting the fleet against aircraft cruise missiles and ballistic missiles.
Nationally, Lockheed Martin Australia now has a 140-plus strong maritime workforce that is capable, experienced, and is job ready to continue performing its leading role in Aegis Combat System integration, sustainment, and upgrade work in Australia.
Post completion of this contract, Lockheed Martin Australia has transitioned into the Combat System Integration – Integrated Project Team, working with BAESMA and Saab Australia in providing the backbone of the engineering capability for the Combat System elements of the Destroyer upgrade.
This team will continue the work commenced by CSD-A and over the next decade will deliver the Combat System upgrades across HMAS Hobart, HMAS Sydney, and HMAS Brisbane.
