Air Warfare Destroyer launch marks ‘beginning of shipbuilding for nation’ says Christopher Pyne

THE launch of Australia’s newest and final Air Warfare Destroyer at Osborne today marks the “beginning of shipbuilding for our nation”, says Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne.

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THE launch of Australia’s newest and final Air Warfare Destroyer marks the “beginning of shipbuilding for our nation”, says Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne.

After first being commissioned in 2007, and encountering major problems early on, the AWD project today concluded with the launching of HMAS Sydney.

At a ceremony for the launch in Osborne, Mr Pyne said with 23 ships, submarines and the future frigates planned for the shipyards it was the start of an exciting future for Australian and South Australian shipbuilding.

“This could have been the last ship built here at Osborne,” he said.

“It could have been a sad day, but happily there will be 23 continuous builds of ships and submarines here.

“We have a tremendous future ahead of us.

“It’s in many ways the beginning of shipbuilding for our nation.”

The AWD program produced ships capable of taking out submarines, enemy aircraft, and missiles.

It was hit by major problems early on, leading to delays and a budget blowout of more than a billion dollars, but has since had a remarkable turnaround.

Program manager Commodore Craig Bourke yesterday said it was “the most complex defence project ever undertaken in Australia”.

“As the most potent warships Australia has ever possessed, all three destroyers feature an advanced anti-submarine warfare capability, state-of-the-art radar technology and an air defence system capable of engaging enemy aircraft and missiles at an extended range,” he said.

He said from the first ship to the second and again to the third there was a dramatic improvement in productivity, so now the workers at ASC are “the only current and competent people in this nation with experience doing a major surface combatant shipbuild”.

“The skilled workforce that is here, the trades, the boilermakers, the electricians, the painters, the planners, the schedulers, they are gold,” he said, adding that they would all be needed on future shipbuilding programs.

The Air Warfare Destroyer Sydney at the Osborne Naval Shipyard. Picture: Supplied