HMAS Brisbane (III)

HMAS Brisbane (D41) occupies a unique role as the class’s long-range strike pioneer, carrying the nickname "Steel Cat"—a legacy title inherited from the iconic Perth-class destroyer D41. While her sister ships focused on air defense validation, Brisbane made history in December 2024 by becoming the first Australian warship to successfully live-fire a Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) during trials in the United States. This milestone officially transformed the Hobart-class from a purely defensive platform into a strategic offensive asset capable of striking targets at ranges exceeding 2,500 km. She also holds the distinction of being the first RAN destroyer to undergo heavy maintenance in Yokosuka, Japan (2025), solidifying a new level of logistical interoperability between the Royal Australian Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

The Hobart-class guided-missile destroyers were developed under Project SEA 4000 to restore the Royal Australian Navy’s high-end integrated air defense capability, filling the strategic gap left by the retirement of the Perth-class. Based on the proven Spanish Navantia F100 design, the class was selected for its balance of established technology and adaptability, then modified for Australian conditions with enhanced range and habitability. While the hulls were assembled in South Australia by ASC through the AWD Alliance, the ships' primary purpose is centered on the American-designed Aegis Combat System, which allows them to track and engage over 100 targets simultaneously. This fusion of a Spanish-designed platform and advanced US sensors provides a sophisticated "air defense bubble" for naval task groups while serving as a multi-role combatant capable of anti-submarine and surface warfare across the Indo-Pacific.