HMAS Ballarat completes 56-week upgrade docking

HMAS Ballarat today completed her 56-week on-dock production activities associated with the Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) and other upgrades.

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

The ship has now been returned to the material control of the Royal Australian Navy and will commence systems and sea trials.

Under the ASMD program, the Royal Australian Navy is upgrading all its ANZAC-class frigates with a new combat management system and installing an infrared search and track system as well as a phased-array radar and dual navigation radar systems.

While the ships are on the hard stand for the ASMD upgrade, other complex engineering and structural changes are also being made – including enclosing the quarterdeck and modifications to accommodate the MH-60 Romeo helicopters.

Ballarat will be berthed at Henderson to conduct systems set-to-works and harbour trials before commencing sea trials.

The BAE Systems Henderson facility will continue to focus on the ASMD upgrade program, with work on HMAS Parramatta well under way, and preparations to dock HMAS Toowoomba next month escalating.

Toowoomba will be the seventh ANZAC frigate to enter the ASMD program.

BAE Systems Director of Maritime Bill Saltzer praised the efforts of the integrated delivery team at Henderson.

“BAE Systems, together with our ANZAC Alliance partners, have successfully implemented the ASMD capability and other significant engineering changes on HMAS Perth, Arunta, ANZAC and Warramunga,” he said.

“Productivity has improved significantly from ship to ship, demonstrating the value of continuous activity.

“BAE Systems’ success as prime contractor and platform system integrator also demonstrates the importance of the involvement we had in the original design and construction of the ANZAC ships.

“The work being undertaken at our Henderson yard is further testament to the skills and capabilities available in our BAE Systems Maritime business and demonstrates the essential role we play in supporting the Australian Defence Force.”

The work on HMAS Ballarat 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 including work on HMA Ships Parramatta, Toowoomba and Stuart.

 

 

 

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