Australia marks major progress on HMAS Hobart upgrade

May 13, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

Australia’s guided missile destroyer HMAS Hobart has reached two major milestones in its ongoing modernization program.

The upgrade work, being carried out at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia, has now surpassed 20 percent production completion, with more than 220,000 production hours accumulated since the ship entered the yard.

Another major achievement was the completion of the Combat Information Centre (CIC) foundation phase. Following the dismantling of the destroyer’s existing CIC, workers completed the installation, welding, and painting of new foundations and mounting points that will support the vessel’s next-generation combat systems and associated equipment.

The work forms part of Australia’s Destroyer Capability Enhancement (DCE) program, designed to significantly expand the operational effectiveness and long-term survivability of the Royal Australian Navy’s Hobart-class destroyers.

Under the modernization effort, HMAS Hobart is receiving an upgraded Aegis combat system and the integration of Tomahawk cruise missile capability, providing the destroyer with enhanced long-range strike options and improved networked warfare capabilities.

Officials say the upgrade and sustainment effort is helping develop new technical and industrial capabilities at Osborne, reinforcing its role as a central hub within Australia’s Continuous Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Enterprise.

To remind, HMAS Hobart formally entered the production phase of its upgrade program after docking at the shipyard in February this year. BAE Systems Australia is an industry partner in the destroyer enterprise (which also includes the Commonwealth of Australia, Lockheed Martin Australia, Thales Australia, Saab Australia, Raytheon Australia, and Navantia Australia).