Two more keel blocks had been delivered to Adelaide this week following delivery of the first keel block last month.
All three blocks were constructed at BAE Systems Williamstown shipyard in Melbourne.
In all some ninety separate blocks will be constructed to build the RAN’s three new Air Warfare Destroyers.
In a statement this week Defence Materiel Minister Jason Clare said about 70 blocks like this will be shipped to Adelaide over the next four years to be consolidated into Air Warfare Destroyers.
“The blocks weigh approximately 190 tonnes each and are about 19m long, 17m wide and five metres high and will form part of the keel of the first warship – HMAS Hobart.”
The steel blocks are being built at shipyards in Adelaide (ASC), Melbourne (BAE Systems), Newcastle (Forgacs) and Ferrol, Spain (Navantia).
Three sonar blocks are being constructed in Spain and the United Kingdom.
Further work on the blocks will then be completed including blast and paint, fitting pipes, installing communications and electrical cables and fitting internal walls.
Construction has begun on all main blocks for the first ship and work has also begun on blocks for the second ship, HMAS Brisbane.
Next year work will begin on blocks for the third ship, HMAS Sydney and the first ship will begin to be consolidated in Adelaide.