ANZAC ASMD Project

Over the past few years a project team has been working on the upgrading of the Royal Australian Navy's ANZAC Class Frigate. The eight ships built during the 90's and early into the new century were thought to lack the potential to protect high value ships that they were designed to do. This lead to a project to upgrade the vessels under a project called the ANZAC Anti-Ship Missile Defence project.

Several Australian and overseas companies have been involved including DAE (ex TENIX Defence), SAAB Australia and CEA Technologies under the control of the Defence Material Organisation or DMO. CEA came up with a unique Phased Array Radar system called CEA-FAR. These have undergone sea trials for several years aboard HMA Ships ARUNTA nad PERTH. The system, now perfected, along with their new CEA-MOUNT Fire Control Radar, has been designed into a new mast to replace the mid-ships mounted SPS-49 radar presently fitted. A new fore mast has also been designed to carry new Navigation Radars and communication equipment.

HMAS PERTH has now commenced this upgrade and will be the trial ship for the project. Following these trials the other seven ANZAC ships will undergo a similar fit out. Many new systems will be incorporated into the upgrade including a new Infra-red Targeting System, improved Communications and Control systems and the closing in of the open quarterdeck at the stern of the ship.

Following the successful completion of the models of the "HOBART" Class AWD models, DMO approached us to produce several models of the upgraded ANZAC frigates. In late 2008 contracts were awarded for two 1:72 scale models and the upgrading of a badly damaged 1:50 scale model. This was followed a couple of days later by an order from CEA to produce two 1:100 scale models. We have no added another 1:100 scale model for SAAB Systems Australia.

The first of the 1:72 scale models has now been completed and delivered to the Project Team in Russell Offices in Canberra. The model has gone on display in the foyer of Russell One and will be used for briefings to RAN and Defence personnel involved in the project. Over the next couple of months the rest of the models will be completed and delivered to their respective new owners (you may see them at PACIFIC 2010).

The first upgraded ANZAC, HMAS Perth (FFH-157) will complete her upgrade in mid 2010 and commence sea trails. The ANZAC Class ships will look very different to what we recognise as the MEKO 200 ANZ ships. Several other Navies who operate MEKO 200 Class Vessels are looking at similar ANZAC ASMD upgrades.