HMAS Sydney to conduct AEGIS weapons system trials in US 16 March 2021 (Last Updated March 16th, 2021 15:09) The Royal Australian Navy’s Hobart-class guided missile destroyer HMAS Sydney has set sail to conduct combat systems sea qualification trials in the US.

Hobart-class destroyer Sydney being fitted out/built in South Australia. Credit: DownUnder11.

The Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Hobart-class guided missile destroyer HMAS Sydney has set sail to conduct combat systems sea qualification trials.

The ship departed its home port at Fleet Base East with a full crew for its deployment to the US.

Before departing, the ship’s company voluntarily received their first Covid-19 vaccine dose.

The AEGIS weapons system test is an important and final milestone to be completed prior to HMAS Sydney’s introduction into service.

The trials will confirm the destroyer’s availability for operational deployments.

Fleet commander rear admiral Mark Hammond said it also marks ‘the culmination of more than a decade of work by the Australian Shipbuilding Industry to deliver this war-fighting capability to navy’.

Constructed in Australia by the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Alliance, Sydney is the last of the three Hobart-class guided missile destroyers.

The Hobart-class vessels are based on the Navantia-designed F100 frigate, which is in service with the Spanish Navy.