Hunter-class frigate

Artist's impression of the BAE Systems Type 26 frigate.
Class overview
BuildersBAE Systems Australia, Osborne Naval Shipyard
Operators Royal Australian Navy
Preceded byAnzac class frigate
Cost
  • A$46 billion (2020)[1] for 9 units out-turned (est.)
  • A$6.2 billion (2023)[2] acquisition budget for first 3 ships
BuiltFrom 2024
In serviceFrom 2034
Planned6
Building1
General characteristics
TypeFrigate/destroyer
Displacement
Length151.4 m (496 ft 9 in)[5]
Beam21.4 m (70 ft 3 in)[6]
Propulsion
  • CODLOG configuration
    • 1 × Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine
    • 4 × MTU Type 20V 4000 M53B high-speed diesel generators
    • 2 × electric motors
Speed27+ knots
Range7,000 nmi (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) in electric motor drive[7]
Complement180 personnel, with accommodation for 208
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys		Nulka decoy launchers
Armament
Aircraft carried
Aviation facilities
Notes
  • Flexible Mission Bay:
    • Rolls-Royce Mission Bay Handling System
    • 2nd helicopter (MH-60R)
    • 4 x 11m RHIB
    • 10 x 20 foot containers
    • UAVs and UUVs[10]

The Hunter-class frigate is an under construction class of six heavy frigates / destroyers for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to replace the Anzac class.

The genesis of the Future Frigate Program came in 2009, when the Rudd government’s Defence White Paper signalled Australia’s intent to "acquire a fleet of eight new Future Frigates, which will be larger than the Anzac-class vessels" with a focus on anti-submarine warfare.[11] With an initial tender expected in 2019–20, in 2014 the Abbott government announced that work had been brought forward, funding a preliminary design study focused on integrating a CEAFAR radar and Saab combat system on the hull of the Hobart-class destroyer.

Following a report by the RAND Corporation into options for Australia's naval shipbuilding industry, the government announced an $89 billion naval shipbuilding plan. This plan brought the schedule of the Future Frigate Program forward by three years and announced a "continuous onshore build program to commence in 2020" in South Australia.[12] A competitive evaluation process was announced in April 2016, and a request for tender was released in March 2017 to three contenders: Navantia, Fincantieri, and BAE Systems as part of a competitive evaluation process.[13] The program is expected to cost AU$35 billion.

In June 2018, the BAE Systems Type 26 frigate was selected as the winner.[14][15][16][17]

In June 2024, construction began at the Osborne Naval Shipyard and the first delivery is expected in 2034.

  1. ^ "Department of Defence's Procurement of Hunter Class Frigates". Australian National Audit Office. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Portfolio Budget Statements 2023-24 Budget Related Paper No. 1.4A Defence Portfolio" (PDF). Australian Department of Defence. 9 May 2023. p. 136. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Hunter Class FFG".
  4. ^ ParlInfo - Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee : 02/06/2021 : Estimates : Defence Portfolio : Department of Defence
  5. ^ "Hunter Class Frigate Program – What We Do". Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  6. ^ "Adding firepower to the Type 26 Frigate". www.navylookout.com. NavyLookout. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :9 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Joint Media Release - Prime Minister, Minister for Defence and Minister for Defence Industry - New Approach to Naval Combat Systems". Department of Defence. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  9. ^ Kerr, Julian (17 May 2017). "Anti-submarine future frigates to be armed with SM-2 missiles to blunt far-distant attacks". The Australian. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  10. ^ Kerr, Julian (5 March 2019). "The Type 26 frigate mission bay. Part 2 – configuration and contents". Save the Royal Navy. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  11. ^ 2009 Defence White Paper (PDF). p. 71.
  12. ^ Andrews, Kevin; Abbott, Tony (4 August 2015). "The Government's plan for a strong and sustainable naval shipbuilding industry". www.minister.defence.gov.au. Archived from the original on 20 September 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  13. ^ Pyne, Christopher (31 March 2017). "$35 billion Future Frigate Tender". www.minister.defence.gov.au. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  14. ^ Wroe, David (28 June 2018). "British frigate program to seed Australia's own warship industry, Turnbull says". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  15. ^ Symth, Jamie (28 June 2018). "BAE triumphs in £20bn Australia frigate contract". Financial Times. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  16. ^ "The Hunter-Class-Defending Australia and securing our shipbuilding industry". Prime Minister of Australia. 29 June 2018. Archived from the original on 11 July 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  17. ^ Blenkin, Max; Ferran, Lee (16 May 2023). "Australian watchdog blasts military on new warship decision". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 18 May 2023.