New Australian destroyer begins acceptance trials

Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Australia's first future Air Warfare Destroyer is starting sea acceptance trials to test its mission systems, including platform and combat systems.

The Hobart, built by the Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance, completed builder sea trials last September that included evaluation of its hull, propulsion and navigation systems.

"These trials are the culmination of all of the preceding design, production, activation, integration and test activities conducted on Hobart to date," AWD Program Manager Commodore Craig Bourke said.

"Sea Acceptance Trials are a significant milestone for the Project as it is the first time that the AWD will be tested as a complete Mission System."

The AWD Alliance is comprised of the Australian government, shipbuilder ASC and Raytheon Australia. The alliance is building three of the 482-foot-long vessels.

During its latest trials, Hobart will work closely with a range of fighter aircraft, surface ships and helicopters, as well as with civilian platforms, in a range of simulated scenarios.

The alliance expects to deliver the ship to the Royal Australian Navy in the middle of this year.