Anti-Ship Missile Defense Upgrade On First ANZAC Frigate

31 Januari 2010

Proposed Anzac class with CEA CEAFAR 3D E/F band, fixed active phased array radar for improved fire control against anti-ship missiles; and CEA CEAMOUNT active phased array radar system to provide mid-course guidance and terminal illumination for the evolved Sea Sparrow missile (image : CEA)

BAE Systems has begun modifying the first of the Royal Australian Navy’s ANZAC Class frigates to be upgraded under the Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) Upgrade Project.

HMAS Perth entered the Henderson dockyard in Western Australia on 18 January on schedule.

The ASMD Upgrade project is being managed by the Defence Materiel Organisation supported by BAE Systems and Saab Systems under an alliance contracting arrangement.

The new layout for the ANZAC Class Operations Roombeing delivered under the ASMD Project (image : Australian DMO)

The upgrade will significantly improve the anti-ship self-defence capabilities of the ANZAC Class by integrating:
-The leading edge CEA Phased Array Radar (PAR)
-The Vampir NG Infrared Search & Track (IRST) system
-The Sharpeye Navigation Radar Systems (NRS), and
-An upgraded Combat Management System (CMS) including an improved Operations Room layout.

Jason Beer, BAE Systems Maritime Through-Life Support General Manager, said today that the platform integration of these systems required significant structural modifications.

Sagem's (Safran group) Vampir NG infrared search and track (IRST) system for detection and tracking of low-level aircraft and anti-ship missiles (image : Safran)

“This includes replacement of both the frigate’s forward and aft masts, which has required us to develop innovative design solutions to minimise the impact on the ship’s weight and stability,” he said.

Mr Beer said that BAE Systems work during the installation phase in HMAS Perth would create more than 150 highly skilled jobs at its Henderson base in WA.

SharpEye solid state pulse Doppler X-Band navigation radar and tactical surface surveillance radar (photo : Kelvin Hughes)

“The experience gained over the past five years of designing and developing this project has enabled BAE Systems Maritime Business Unit to enhance critical skills in complex maritime combat systems integration and platform systems integration.

“These skills are crucial to maintaining the capability that will be needed for next generation naval programs such as the Future Frigate and the Offshore Combatant Vessel projects,” Mr Beer said.

(DefenceTalk)