ANZAC CLASS FRIGATES TO GET TOWED ARRAY SONAR SYSTEMS

摘要

SOME 16 to 21 years after commissioning, the RAN's eight Anzac-class frigates are to be equipped with towed array sonar systems. The first of the class, HMAS Anzac, was commissioned in 1996 and the latest, HMAS Perth, was commissioned in 2006. All eight ships were fitted for towed arrays but never received them, despite their role as the RAN's main antisubmarine warfare (ASW) platform. In a 21 March notification on the Aus-Tender website, Defence said a Request for Information (RFI) would be released "within the month" in relation to Project Sea 1408, a consolidation of Sea 1408 Phase 3 Torpedo Self Defence and Project Sea 5014 Phase 2 Anzac Towed Array Sonar. "The project seeks to identify and delivery new generation anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and torpedo self-defence (TSD) capability to the RAN surface fleet," the notification stated. "The introduction of the ASW improvements is to help maximise an individual ship's ability to detect and defeat submarine and torpedo threats and improve platform survivability. Integration of these capabilities elements with the platform's Combat Management System will be pursued to provide a networked system for maritime task groups," the notification added.