Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Anzac-class frigate HMAS Perth returned to the water on 1 July after being lowered out of the dry dock at the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson, Western Australia.
The move followed the completion of upgrades to the frigate's radar capabilities, communications systems, and crew-habitable areas, which are a major part of the Anzac Midlife Capability Assurance Programme (AMCAP), according to a 2 July statement by the Department of Defence (DoD) in Canberra.
HMAS Perth being lowered out of the dry dock at the Australian Marine Complex at Henderson in Western Australia following completion of a major part of the AMCAP upgrades. (Royal Australian Navy/Commonwealth of Australia)
“This is a significant step towards the completion of Perth' s upgrade, which will now move on to the final stages, enabling the ship to return to the fleet and undertake deployments and exercises with our regional partners in 2022,” Anthony Nagle, the ship's commanding officer, was quoted as saying.
The 3,600-tonne frigate (with pennant number 157) is set to undergo sea trials and certification early next year following the final steps in its upgrade process.
Perth was placed in ‘extended readiness' in late 2017 as the RAN was unable to crew the vessel, which received some elements of the AMCAP programme at the Henderson Marine Complex in 2018.
Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mike Noonan told a parliamentary committee on 1 June that Perth has been completed re-crewed as of April.
Commissioned in August 2006, Perth is the youngest of the RAN's eight-strong Anzac class.
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