ADELAIDE, Australia, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- The Australia Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance reports the keel has been laid for the third ship of the three-ship program.
The laying of the keel for the Sydney coincided with the initial activation of combat systems aboard the first-in-class destroyer, the Hobart, which is to begin sea trials next year.
The second Air Warfare Destroyer for the Royal Australian Navy, the Brisbane, is nearing hull consolidation.
"Production is now more than 70 per cent complete across the project and significant productivity improvements are being realized from ship to ship," said AWD Alliance Chief Executive Officer Rod Equid in a statement. "We have come a long way since our first keel-laying ceremony was held three years ago.
"We recognise the importance of the work being done on the third ship, as this is where we will achieve the highest levels of productivity, based on the lessons from Sydney's sister ships."
The AWD alliance is composed of Australia's Defense Materiel Organization, shipbuilder ASC and Raytheon Australia.
Navantia of Spain is building a number of modules for the vessels.
