Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds said the arrival of Sydney is a proud day for Defence and the people of Sydney:
“Today marks another milestone in Defence capability, with Sydney being the most potent and capable warship Australia has ever built. The Hobart-class Destroyers are the first Australian warships equipped with the US Aegis combat management system, and will allow us to work closer with our allies than ever before.”
The 147-metre warship sailed from Osborne, South Australia, where she was built. Sydney is the last of three Hobart Class vessels built for the Royal Australian Navy and is based on the Navantia F100 frigate design.
She is equipped with advanced combat systems, providing the ship with the layered defensive and offensive capabilities required to counter conventional asymmetrical threats.
Sydney will commission into the Royal Australian Navy in May 2020.
About the future HMAS Sydney
NUSHIP Sydney (V) is the final of three ships of the Hobart class guided missile destroyers. Her sister ships will be HMAS Hobart (III) and HMAS Brisbane (III). The keel of Sydney was laid down on 19 November 2015 and launched on 19 May 2018 by Mrs Judy Shalders in Osborne, South Australia.
The Hobart-class is based on the Navantia designed F100 frigate and is coupled it with the Aegis Combat System. All three destroyers of the class were constructed in Australia by the Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance.
Sydney will provide air defence for accompanying ships in addition to land forces and infrastructure in coastal areas, and for self-protection against missiles and aircraft. The Aegis Combat System incorporating the state-of-the-art phased array radar, AN/SPY 1D(V), in combination with the SM-2 missile, will provide an advanced air defence system capable of engaging enemy aircraft and missiles at ranges in excess of 150km.
Sydney will carry a MH-60R helicopter for surveillance and response to support key warfare areas. The surface warfare function will include long range anti-ship missiles and a naval gun capable of firing extended range munitions in support of land forces.
Sydney will also conduct undersea warfare and be equipped with modern sonar systems, decoys, surface-launched torpedoes and an array of effective close-in defensive weapons.
These capabilities ensure that the Hobart class guided missile destroyers have the layered defensive and offensive capability required to counter conventional and asymmetric threats.
