Supporting the Navy

On 1 May  2007, Saab and Tenix Defence signed a new contract with Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) for the through life support of the Australian Defence Force's ANZAC class ships and shore facilities. The contract known as the ANZAC ship Integrated Material Support Program Alliance will last for a maximum of nine years (2016).

It includes the depot level maintenance of between one to three ships at any one time throughout the period of the contract- with the eight Royal Australian Navy ships in service going through a Usage Upkeep Cycle of nine months between maintenance availabilities. Overall the ANZAC Systems Program Office estimates that it will manage more than 170 small to medium changes, about $1 billion worth of work, under the IMS contract.

Also being undertaken are Anti-Ship Missile Defence upgrades to ensure the ANZAC frigates have an improved level of self defence against modern anti-ship missiles.

Key improvements to upgrade sensors and weapon systems include:

• Installation of an infra-red search and track system providing improved detection and indication of low level aircraft and anti-ship missiles when close to land.
• Improvements to the existing fire control radar to increase the detection and engagement range against anti-ship missiles.
• Improvements to the command and control system to shorten the time between detection and engagement of anti-ship missiles.
• Installation of the CEA-FAR active phased array radar being developed by CEA, an Australian company based in Canberra, which will offer significant enhancements over conventional radars to provide target indication and tracking of supersonic anti-ship missiles.
• Installation of the CEA-MOUNT active phased array radar, also being developed by CEA, which will be fitted in lieu of a second fire control radar to provide mid-course guidance and terminal illumination for the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile. This will deliver multiple channels of fire, and enable more than one missile to be controlled in flight.