WESTERN Australia is set to receive the lion’s share of the work from a $500 million project to upgrade the anti-ship missile defences in the Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac class frigates.
Defence Minister Robert Hill said most of the work would be undertaken in WA.
The ASMD upgrade will be contracted through the Anzac Alliance that the Department of Defence has with Tenix and Saab. The work will be done during periods of scheduled maintenance.
Sensor and weapon systems upgrades will include: an infra-red search and track system; improvements to the command and control system; improvement to the existing fire control radar; and the installation of two very short-range air defence weapon systems to provide 360 degree close-in protection against supersonic anti-ship missiles.
A Canberra company is developing an active phased array radar that could offer significant enhancements over conventional radars.
“The outcomes of trials being conducted ashore and at sea will determine whether phased array radar will be included in the package,” Senator Hill said.