The Royal Australian Navy’s new multi-phased array radar system has been granted initial operating use (IOU), after a successful trial aboard Anzac class frigate HMAS Perth.
The trial, which was conducted off the Australian coastline and the US Navy Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii, tested the radar’s anti-ship missile defence capabilities enabling it to identify, track and guide missiles to multiple targets at the same time.
“The tests proved that the new system can defend the ship from modern cruise missile attack. This is a significant enhancement for the Anzac class frigates,” Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Ray Griggs said.
Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare added that the CEA Technologies-developed multi-phased array radar was a significant upgrade from current missile defence technology employed by Anzac class frigates, which allow for only one target to be tracked and destroyed at a time.
“This is the latest weapon in Navy’s arsenal. It means our Anzac frigates will be a lot more capable,” Clare said.
Following the radar’s successful trial onboard the Perth, the government is expected to soon make a decision on whether to upgrade the RAN’s remaining fleet of seven Anzac-class frigates with the same system.
