BAE Systems Australia’s shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia, has taken the first steps in constructing the proof-of-concept mast for the Hunter Class Frigate Program.
Each Hunter class frigate is made up of 22 blocks, or sections, and 21 of these will be constructed at Osborne, while the mast is planned to be manufactured at Henderson and then shipped to Osborne for installation.
The mast will incorporate CEA Technologies’ CEA phased array radar, giving the ships a world-class detection system.
The first steps have been taken, with the manufacture of eight different types of jigs, which are individually purpose-built constructions that support the different components of the mast throughout the manufacturing process.
“Our years of sustaining and upgrading the Anzac class has built up a wealth of knowledge at Henderson in mast-building, and the application of this expertise on the Hunter program is a great example of BAE Systems Australia being able to leverage capability across multiple sites," said Greg Laxton, Sustainment Director for BAE Systems Australia – Maritime.
“This is a great example of our Continuous Naval Shipbuilding strategy in action – we are sharing work across multiple sites to support jobs and growth in different states, as well as minimising risk.”
After completion of the jigs, the proof-of-concept mast will begin construction in early 2024, with a project team made up of Design Engineers, Manufacturing Engineers, and tradespeople from Melbourne, Osborne, and Henderson.