Hobart Class Destroyer - Planning

Planning

The 1992 Force Structure Review contained plans to replace the three Perth class guided missile destroyers and four of the six Adelaide class guided missile frigates with air defence vessels. The initial proposal - to build an additional six Anzac class frigates configured for wide-area anti-aircraft warfare - did not go ahead as the Anzac design was too small to effectively host all the required equipment and weapons. Instead, the RAN began to upgrade the Adelaides in 1999 to fill the anti-aircraft capability that would be lost when the Perths left service between 1999 and 2001. The frigate upgrade was only intended as a stop-gap (only four ships were upgraded, and all four were due to decommission during the mid 2010s), and by 2000, the Australian Defence Force had begun a project to replace the three Perth class destroyers. The acquisition of the dedicated air warfare destroyers was initially identified as Project SEA 1400, then redesignated Project Sea 4000.

The main role of the air warfare destroyer is air defence of a naval task group, in addition to assets ashore and operating in the littoral. Although specifically designed for air warfare, the AWDs also had to be capable of facing other threats, and were to be fitted with ship-to-ship missiles, a gun for naval gunfire support of soldiers ashore, and anti-submarine capability through sonar systems and abovewater-launched torpedoes. The ships had to be able to operating a helicopter for both surveillance and combat duties.

In 2004, the Department of Defence identified that the future air warfare destroyer class would be built around the United States Navy's Aegis Combat System. The use of Aegis was formally approved in April 2005, and Raytheon Australia was brought into the AWD project with the responsibility of integrating the Aegis system into the selected design, along with modifications to accommodate RAN-preferred electronic warfare equipment, underwater sensors, and weapons. In May 2005, the ASC shipyard at Osborne, South Australia was identified as the primary shipbuilder for the project. In late 2005, the AWD Alliance was formed to organise and implement the project. The Alliance is a consortium including the Defence Material Organisation, ASC's project-dedicated subsidiary, and Raytheon.

After receiving tenders from Blohm + Voss, Navantia, and Gibbs & Cox among others, the Australian government identified Gibbs & Cox's Evolved Flight II Arleigh Burke class destroyer as the preferred design in August 2005. The Álvaro de Bazán class frigate designed by Navantia, was identified as the official alternative, and both designs began further testing and modification as part of a two-year selection process. The two ship designs were equivalent in many areas, including length, speed and weapons outfit, although the Arleigh Burke class was larger with a displacement 2,200 tons greater than the Spanish frigate, and had superior capabilities in regards to range (700 nautical miles (1,300 km; 810 mi) greater), helicopter operations (two embarked helicopters instead of one), primary armament (a 64-cell Mark 41 Vertical Launch System compared to a 48-cell launcher), and close-defence (with a second close-in weapons system). Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Russ Shalders believed the American design would provide the RAN with a greater long-term capability, as there was greater scope for upgrades and modifications later in the ships' careers. Despite the American destroyer being the preferred option, the conclusion of the selection process in late June 2007 saw Navantia's Álvaro de Bazán design selected, as unlike the Evolved Arleigh Burkes, the Spanish ships were a less-risky design as they had been tested and proven, they could be in service four years earlier than the American-designed ships, and they would cost A$1 billion less to build. Additionally, the design of the operations room in the existing Arleigh Burkes was not considered suitable for RAN needs. There were also benefits in ordering the destroyers and the Canberra class landing helicopter dock ships from the same designer.

The contract for the ships was signed on 4 October 2007. The A$8 billion, three-ship deal included the option to order a fourth ship at a later date. This option was due to expire in October 2008. The Australian government sought to extend the offer into early 2009, so as to review the recommendations of the Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030 white paper due for completion at the end of 2008, and to enquire about acquiring a fourth Aegis system from the USN, before ordering or cancelling the fourth destroyer. The Navy League of Australia has consistently supported the acquisition of a fourth AWD. According to the Navy League, building a fourth destroyer would be relatively cheap (money for design and other 'start-up' costs would already be spent), would keep Australian shipbuilders employed for longer (as there is a projected seven-year gap before construction starts on the next major warship replacement), and improve RAN capabilities (by offering increased flexibility and redundancy, particularly in the event of a Falklands War-like armed conflict).

The Australian Minister for Defence announced on 20 January 2006 that the Air Warfare Destroyers will be named Hobart, Brisbane, and Sydney. The Navy League of Australia has proposed several names for a possible fourth destroyer, including HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Adelaide; the latter would free up the second Canberra class landing helicopter dock ship to be named HMAS Australia.