The Australia Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance reports the keel has been laid for the third ship of the three-ship program.

The laying of the keel for the Sydney coincided with the initial activation of combat systems aboard the first-in-class destroyer, the Hobart, which is to begin sea trials next year.

The second Air Warfare Destroyer for the Royal Australian Navy, the Brisbane, is nearing hull consolidation.

"Production is now more than 70 per cent complete across the project and significant productivity improvements are being realized from ship to ship," said AWD Alliance Chief Executive Officer Rod Equid in a statement. "We have come a long way since our first keel-laying ceremony was held three years ago.

"We recognise the importance of the work being done on the third ship, as this is where we will achieve the highest levels of productivity, based on the lessons from Sydney's sister ships."

The AWD alliance is composed of Australia's Defense Materiel Organization, shipbuilder ASC and Raytheon Australia.

Navantia of Spain is building a number of modules for the vessels.

BAE Systems to perform maintenance work on U.S. destroyer
Norfolk, Va. (UPI) Nov 19, 2015 - BAE Systems reports it has been contracted to conduct repair, maintenance and modernization work on a U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.

Work on the USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98), will begin in January of next year at BAE Systems' facility in Norfolk, Va., and conclude in July.

The firm-fixed-price contract award is worth $25.2 million. If all contract options were exercised, contract value would rise to $26.7 million, BAE Systems said.

The guided-missile destroyer was built by Ingalls Shipbuilding and was commissioned into service in 2006.

Work to be performed by the company includes drydocking the 509.5-foot-long ship, mechanical and electrical repairs, underwater hull preservation and maintenance of its propulsion system.