HMAS Hobart pulls into Sydney after missile-testing deployment

Ultra-advanced Navy ship HMAS Hobart has pulled into Sydney Harbour after a three-month deployment to the United States.

Waiting families lined Garden Island in Sydney harbour, happy to see their serving relatives in time for Christmas.

HMAS Hobart, which was commissioned in September 2017, was deployed to the coast of San Diego to test its cutting-edge combat and weaponry system.

The ship is the first outside the US to test the highly intelligent missile system which allows the Australian Navy to spot, lock and hit enemy aircraft, drones and even other missiles.

This new capability also has a stunning range of more than 150 kilometres.

If needed, HMAS Hobart can also identify multiple targets and fire numerous missiles instantaneously in response.

The ship is also equipped with modern sonar systems, decoys, surface-launched torpedoes and an array of effective close-in defensive weapons that allows it to conduct undersea warfare.

HMAS Hobart statistics:

Commanding Officer: Captain John Stavridis

Class: Hobart class

Type: Destroyer, Guided Missile

Length: 146.7 metres

Beam: 18.6 metres

Draught: 7.2 metres

Top speed: 28+ knots

Range: 4500 nautical miles (at 18 knots)

Crew: 180 approximately