Raytheon delivers second Phalanx Block 1B for Australia's Air Warfare Destroyer

Raytheon delivered the second Phalanx Block 1B Close-In Weapon System for installation on Australia's newest Air Warfare Destroyer, the Brisbane. A previously awarded direct commercial sale contract calls for a total of three Phalanx mounts to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy. The first mount was delivered in late 2012 for installation aboard the Hobart. A third system is under construction and will be installed on the Sydney in 2014 . The 6,500 metric ton Hobart Class AWD is based on the Navantia Spanish F100 ship design. It is being developed and built by the AWD Alliance, with the Australian Government (represented by the Defence Materiel Organisation) as owner-participant, with ASC as the shipbuilder and with Raytheon Australia as the Mission Systems Integrator. Phalanx is a rapid-fire, computer-controlled radar and 20 mm gun system that automatically acquires, tracks and destroys enemy threats that have penetrated all other ship defense systems. More than 890 systems have been built and deployed in the navies of 25 nations. These Hobart Class AWDs will provide air defence for accompanying ships in addition to land forces and infrastructure in coastal areas, and for self-protection against missiles and aircraft. The Aegis Combat System incorporating the state-of-the-art phased array radar, AN/SPY 1D(V), in combination with the SM-2 missile, will provide an advanced air defence system capable of engaging enemy aircraft and missiles at ranges in excess of 150km. The AWDs will carry a helicopter for surveillance and response to support key warfare areas. The surface warfare function will include long range anti-ship missiles and a naval gun capable of firing extended range munitions in support of land forces. The Hobart Class will also conduct Under sea Warfare and be equipped with modern sonar systems, decoys, surface-launched torpedoes and an array of effective close-in defensive weapons.