HMAS Hobart Destroyer Start the Upgrade Program

18 Maret 2026

The guided missile destroyer (DDG), HMAS Hobart at South Australia’s Osborne Naval Shipyard (photos: BAE Systems)

The docking of frontline guided missile destroyer (DDG), HMAS Hobart, at South Australia’s Osborne Naval Shipyard signified the official start of the production phase of its upgrade program.

Under the Destroyer Capability Enhancement (DCE) program, Australia’s Hobart class destroyers — HMA Ships Hobart, Brisbane and Sydney — will receive advancements that will boost capability. This includes new state-of-the-art technology, integration of a Tomahawk cruise missile system and an upgraded Aegis combat system.

“Hobart’s arrival was the accumulation of many months of hard work and since the milestone, the DCE teams have continued moving at pace with efficiency,” Shaun Connelly, BAE Systems Australia – Maritime’s DDG Program Director, said.

“I’d like to acknowledge the close collaboration with our customer and industry partners helping lead this incredible body of work.”

One aspect of the DCE program is the Combat Systems Integration – Integrated Project Team (CSI-IPT). This collaboration between the Commonwealth of Australia, BAE Systems Australia, Saab Australia and Lockheed Martin Australia is delivering the updated Aegis combat system for the Hobarts.

The CSI-IPT is increasing the DDGs’ combat systems capability from Aegis Baseline 8 to 9, as well as introducing Saab’s new Australian Interface and incorporating a Tomahawk Weapon System into the vessels.

The upgraded Aegis will also be included on the Hunter class frigates upon entering service.

Now leading the DCE and Hunter class frigate build programs, the Osborne shipyard truly has become a multi-program Tier 1 surface combatant facility.

“Osborne shares a 40 year history with the Royal Australian Navy and this legacy includes construction of the three Hobart class destroyers,” Mr Connelly said.

“The shipyard is state of the art, continues to evolve and now with supporting both the DCE and Hunter programs, this versatility makes it a premier asset for the Continuous Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Enterprise.

“Not only in Osborne but we have the best people, located in nearly every state, supporting this Australia—wide endeavour now and into the future,” Mr Connelly said.

BAE Systems Australia is an industry partner in the Destroyer Enterprise (also including the Commonwealth of Australia, Lockheed Martin Australia, Thales Australia, Saab Australia, Raytheon Australia and Navantia Australia) that is sustaining the DDGs at their homeport of Garden Island in Sydney. In 2024, the company was announced as the ships’ Capability Life Cycle Manager, meaning it overseas sustainment activities, such as engineering, maintenance, supply chain and project management.

The DCE program was announced in the Commonwealth’s 2024 Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Plan.

Coming full circle, HMAS Hobart is now docked for the upgrade work on the very spot it was first built nearly a decade ago.

(BAE Systems)

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