The Royal Australian Navy’s Hobart-class guided missile destroyer HMAS Hobart has entered the production phase of its capability upgrade programme following its docking at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia. The milestone marks the formal commencement of work under the Destroyer Capability Enhancement (DCE) programme, which will deliver a series of upgrades across the Hobart-class fleet, comprising HMA Ships Hobart, Brisbane, and Sydney. The enhancements are intended to significantly improve the class’s operational effectiveness through the integration of advanced technologies, including the addition of a Tomahawk land-attack cruise missile capability and an upgraded Aegis combat system. A central element of the DCE programme is the Combat Systems Integration – Integrated Project Team (CSI-IPT), a collaborative effort involving the Commonwealth of Australia, BAE Systems Australia, Saab Australia, and Lockheed Martin Australia. The team is responsible for delivering the upgraded Aegis combat system across the destroyer fleet.
“Hobart’s arrival was the accumulation of many months of hard work and since the milestone, the DCE teams have continued moving at pace with efficiency. I’d like to acknowledge the close collaboration with our customer and industry partners helping lead this incredible body of work. Osborne shares a 40 year history with the Royal Australian Navy and this legacy includes construction of the three Hobart class destroyers. The shipyard is state of the art, continues to evolve and now with supporting both the DCE and Hunter programs, this versatility makes it a premier asset for the Continuous Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Enterprise. Not only in Osborne but we have the best people, located in nearly every state, supporting this Australia—wide endeavour now and into the future,” Shaun Connelly, BAE Systems Australia – Maritime’s DDG Program Director, said.
Under the upgrade, the ships’ combat systems will be enhanced from Aegis Baseline 8 to Baseline 9, alongside the integration of Saab’s Australian Interface and the incorporation of the Tomahawk Weapon System. The Baseline 9 configuration is expected to provide improved air and missile defence capabilities, as well as enhanced interoperability with allied naval forces. The upgraded Aegis system is also planned for installation on the Royal Australian Navy’s future Hunter-class frigates, aligning combat system commonality across major surface combatants. Osborne Naval Shipyard, which is currently supporting both the DCE programme and the construction of the Hunter-class frigates, has evolved into a multi-programme facility for Tier 1 surface combatant production. The site has a longstanding association with the Royal Australian Navy, including the original construction of the Hobart-class destroyers.
BAE Systems Australia also serves as an industry partner within the broader Destroyer Enterprise, which includes the Commonwealth of Australia, Lockheed Martin Australia, Thales Australia, Saab Australia, Raytheon Australia, and Navantia Australia. The enterprise is responsible for sustaining the Hobart-class fleet at its homeport of Garden Island, Sydney. In 2024, BAE Systems Australia was appointed Capability Life Cycle Manager for the destroyers, overseeing sustainment functions such as engineering support, maintenance, supply chain management, and programme delivery. The DCE programme was outlined in the Commonwealth’s 2024 Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Plan. Notably, Hobart has returned to the same Osborne facility where it was originally constructed nearly a decade ago, marking a full-cycle milestone as it undergoes its first major capability upgrade.
