30/08/2026
HMAS Hobart completes DDG upgrade program on schedule
Naval 20 August 2026
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By: Stephen Kuper from Defence Connect
Lead ship of the Hobart Class of guided missile destroyers, HMAS Hobart has successfully completed the latest round of upgrades in a first for the class on time, marking a major boost in capability for the Royal Australian Navy.
Delivered as part of the multibillion-dollar SEA 4000 Phase 6, otherwise known as the Destroyer Capability Enhancement Program, representing a transformative leap in Australia’s maritime lethality and long-range strike capability.
At the heart of the project is the transition from the original Aegis Baseline 7.1 combat system to the Aegis Baseline 9 combat system; this extensive software and hardware overhaul drastically improves the fleet’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence capacity.
Aegis Baseline 9 will allow the destroyers to detect, track and engage advanced airborne threats, including terminal ballistic missiles, forming a critical component of the nation’s broader integrated air and missile defence architecture and systems, fulfilling a key mission articulated in the 2023 Defence Strategic Review and subsequent 2024 and 2026 National Defence Strategies, respectively.
Vice Admiral Matthew Paul Buckley AM CSC RAN, speaking in a piece to camera on Facebook, said: “Sitting astern of me here is HMAS Hobart, the first destroyer to go through the Destroyer Capability Enhancement Program, she’ll be undocking tomorrow (20 August 2026).”
