The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Anzac-class frigate HMAS Perth returned to the water after completing the upgrade of the ship’s radar and communication system and the habitable area of the crew at the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson, Western Australia on July 1. The Department of Defense (DoD) issued a statement.
These upgrades are part of RAN’s ongoing Anzac Midlife Capability Assurance Program (AMCAP), which focuses on modernizing aging platform systems, communications, remote search radar installation, and general maintenance. The work of the Anzac class fleet is expected to be completed in 2023/24.
AMCAP follows the anti-ship missile defense (ASMD) upgrade plan between 2010 and 2017, which includes replacing the original Raytheon SPS-49(V)8 ANZ long-range air search radar and replacing it with a CEAFAR2 L-band active radar phased array Radar, major engineering upgrades and maintenance.
“This is an important step towards completing the Perth upgrade and will now enter the final stage, enabling the ship to return to the fleet in 2022 and conduct deployments and exercises with our regional partners,” said Naval Commander Anthony Nagel. captain.
The 3,600-ton frigate is expected to undergo sea trials and certification early next year after completing the remaining work in the upgrade process. As RAN was unable to gather enough crew to operate, the ship was in an “extended readiness state” as early as the end of 2017, and received some elements of AMCAP at the Henderson Marine Complex in 2018.
The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) pointed out in its 2019 report on the Anzac frigate fleet that the Department of Defense recommended that the government extend the service life of the frigate before the next-generation Hunter class enters service within the expected time frame of 2027. The audit agency stated that Perth, which was initially expected to be phased out in 2033, will continue to serve until 2043.
Following the completion of the upgrade of HMAS Arunta and HMAS Anzac in November 2018 and May 2020, sister ship HMAS Warramunga completed the AMCAP upgrade plan in October 2020.
Xiao Wu
