Project

Explanation

Background

The need for an Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) capability in the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN) surface fleet was first foreshadowed in the 2000 Defence White Paper.

SEA 1448 Phase 2A is the initial phase of the ANZAC ASMD Program, performed by the ANZAC Alliance (Commonwealth plus BAE Systems (previously Tenix) and Saab Systems), to provide ship systems capable of integrating missile defence systems.

Phase 2A was approved by Government in November 2003 for $475m (December 2003 prices). This included an element for the Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSRAD) (two per ship) of $155.5m, which was quarantined pending the outcome of investigations into an active phased array radar system (referred to as CEAFAR) and its Sea trials conducted in 2004.

SEA 1448 Phases 2A and 2B are being managed as a confederated ASMD Project due to their common systems engineering disciplines, schedules and risks. Phase 2A represents a low risk due to its in-service equipment, whereas Phase 2B represents a high risk due to the leading edge (developmental) technology involved, and these risks migrate as enterprise risks to the confederated SEA 1448 Phase 2 ASMD Project.

As a result of technical issues in the integration of the phased array radar into the Class with Phase 2B of the ASMD Project in 2007, a change to the Phase 2B Project acquisition strategy has caused delays in the installation of the equipment being purchased under Phase 2A. These delays do not impact on the delivery of the Phase 2A equipment, which is being delivered into store and appropriately maintained until the Phase 2B acquisition strategy calls on the equipment for installation.

To support the upgraded Mk3E Combat Management System and IRST, a combined ASMD Integration and Training Centre was built by the Defence Support Group (DSG) in 2006. This building was added to the existing ANZAC System Support Centre (ASSC) located at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia. This facility was made available for lead ship training between September 2010 and April 2011 and will be formally handed to Navy in August 2011.

The only remaining contract yet to be signed for Phase 2A of the ASMD Project is for the first 3 years of in service support for the IRST. This was intended to occur before December 2010, but due to contractual considerations this has been delayed to last quarter of 2011. The support for the Mk3E Combat Management System is already in contract as there is an existing sustainment support contract with Saab Systems (Australia) for the existing Saab Mk3 Combat Management System that is already installed in the ANZAC Class.

Uniqueness

The Phase 2A Combat Management System upgrade is the next generation of the Mk3E system initially installed on the final Anzac Class Frigate (HMAS Perth). The Mk3E was the first XP windows based commercial off the shelf combat management system in the RAN and was initially installed in HMAS Perth as part of a de-risking trial.

This Phase of the ASMD Project is currently fully contracted through the Anzac Ship Alliance.

Major Challenges

The Major Challenges for SEA 1448 Phase 2A have been:

• The decision to investigate the option of a Phased Array Radar for Phase 2B in lieu of the originally selected VSRAD option. Consequently, Phase 2A was directed to commence in isolation to the Phase 2B decision. The planned decision of December 2004 to use the Phased Array Radar in Phase 2B was delayed to September 2005, impacting on the systems engineering aspects of the project, as several decisions made during the first year were required to be revisited when the Phase 2B decision was made to ensure the viability of the decision and design. This has also delayed the completion of the integration and training facilities at the ANZAC Systems Support Centre; and

• Ensuring sufficient spares for the Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) based Combat Management System has been mitigated through the procurement of key COTS components of the ASMD Mk3E Combat Management System.

Other Current Projects/Sub-Projects

Phase 2B - This Phase completes the ASMD Upgrade by delivering a Phased Array Radar (PAR) system consisting of a target indication and tracking radar titled CEAFAR and a missile illuminator system, titled CEAMOUNT which will provide mid course guidance and terminal illumination to the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM). This phase also replaces the existing ANZAC Class navigation radar.