Project

Explanation

Description

The Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) upgrade SEA1448 Phase 2 project will provide the ANZAC Class Frigates with an enhanced level of self-defence against modern anti-ship missiles.

There are two sub-phases of SEA1448 Phase 2. Phase 2B of the ASMD Project, with an approved budget of $459 million will introduce an indigenous, leading edge technology, phased array radar (CEAFAR) and missile illuminator (CEAMOUNT) - collectively referred to as the phased array radar (PAR) System. The PAR System delivers enhanced target detection and tracking that allows Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM) to engage multiple targets simultaneously. A new dual ship-set I-Band Navigation radar will coincidentally be provided under this Phase to replace the navigation function performed by the Target Indication Radar (TIR), at the same time replacing the obsolescent Krupp Atlas 9600.

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 2B is the final Phase of the ANZAC ASMD Program, where the addition to the Class of the phased array radar technology is being undertaken by the Australian Company CEA Technologies and the overall integration into the ANZAC Class is being performed by the ANZAC Alliance (Commonwealth plus BAE Systems (previously Tenix) and Saab Systems).

SEA 1448 Phase 2B was approved by Government in September 2005 for $404m. SEA 1448 Phases 2A (the initial phase of the ASMD Project which is procuring the combat management system hardware and the infra-red search and track capability) and 2B are being managed as a confederated ASMD Project due to their common systems engineering disciplines, schedules and risks. Phase 2A is a low risk component whilst it remains part of the confederated project and there are no Phase 2A risks that will migrate to the ASMD Project as enterprise risk. Due to its leading edge and developmental technology, Phase 2B is a high risk phase either as a stand-alone component or as part of the confederated ASMD Project, and these risks do migrate as enterprise risks to the confederated ASMD Project. Consequently, Defence has successfully conducted a number of risk reduction maturity demonstrations of the CEA phased array radar systems CEAFAR and CEAMOUNT since 2004.

Originally planned for installation into all eight ANZAC Class ships under a single contract, a further review in 2007 of the technical risks associated with the introduction of the leading edge radar led Government in August 2009 to revise the acquisition strategy to a single ship installation. This strategy allows the project to prove this capability at sea before seeking Government approval to commence installation into subsequent ships. The lead ship, HMAS Perth, commenced its upgrade in January 2010 and is expected to complete its sea testing in July 2011.

CEA Technologies have been under contract to the Commonwealth since December 2005 delivering a continuum of work, including; initial risk reduction and system architecture studies, prototype system build and test, and production and testing of the first ship system that is being installed in HMAS Perth during 2010. The ANZAC Alliance has similarly been under contract with the Commonwealth since mid 2005 for systems engineering and design effort, leading to the installation and overall system testing of the lead ship HMAS Perth in July 2011.

Uniqueness

The phased array radar component of the Anti-Ship Missile Defence Project is highly developmental and has not previously been fielded in this form before, although the system components are fourth generation derivatives of fielded CEA systems. The ADF will be the first to operate a warship with the Australian designed and manufactured CEA Technologies low power active phased array radar system.

Major Challenges

During 2007, it was determined from system engineering reviews and DSTO modelling and analysis that the integration of the phased array radar with the existing ANZAC Class radar systems suggested that existing financial provisions were insufficient to deliver an eight ship Program without a real cost increase. As a direct result, Defence reviewed the acquisition strategy for the Project and modified it to a single ship installation that would need to prove the capability at sea before consideration was given by Government to install into the remaining ships within the Class. Government agreed to this updated strategy in July 2009.

Current Status

This was a Project of Concern in 2009-10.

Cost Performance

The Project is currently working within its approved budget for delivery of the lead ship; determination of any real cost increase required to complete all eight ships will be advised to Government on successful completion of lead ship sea testing after July 2011.

Schedule Performance

Based on the revised acquisition strategy approved by Government in July 2009, the systems being delivered in Phase 2B are currently on schedule. The overall variance from the original Second Pass (eight ship) Government approval of the Project in September 2005 is 18 months.

Capability Performance

Under the revised acquisition strategy, a series of risk reduction demonstrations have been carried out with the CEA phased array radar system since July 2008. These demonstrations have provided sufficient evidence to Defence to demonstrate that the capability being provided by the radar should meet the directed requirements. On-going demonstration of the overall upgraded ASMD capability at land-based test sites using the operational software also continues to successfully demonstrate the capability being delivered.