RAN to grow surface combatant fleet

The Royal Australian Navy will more than double the size of its surface combatant feet under plans released by the Australian government. The expanded fleet of more than 26 ships will also be more lethal than the RAN’s current fleet of surface combatants.

The announcement follows the Government’s consideration of the recommendations of an independent analysis of the RAN surface combatant fleet, led by retired US Navy Vice Admiral William Hilarides and commissioned in response to the Defence Strategic Review (DSR).

To pay for this expanded fleet the Australian government will inject an additional $1.7 billion into the defence budget over the next five years and some $11.1 billion over the next decade. This extra money is intended to  accelerate delivery of the RAN’s future surface combatant fleet and expand Australia’s shipbuilding industry.

This additional expenditure comes on top of the Government’s investment of an additional $30.5 billion to Defence’s Integrated Investment Program out to 2032-33. The additional $11.1 billion brings both acquisition and sustainment investment in the fleet to $54.2 billion in total over the next decade.

In line with the review’s recommendations, the RAN’s future surface combatant fleet will consist of 26 major surface combatants:

• Three Hobart-class DDG with upgraded air defence and strike capabilities
• Six Hunter-class frigates to boost Navy’s undersea warfare and strike capabilities
• 11 new general-purpose frigatesthat will provide maritime and land strike, air defence and escort capabilities
• Six new Large Optionally Crewed Surface Vessels (LOSVs)that will significantly increase Navy’s long-range strike capacity

Two of the current eight ANZAC-class frigates will be decommissioned close to their original planned withdrawal date. The remaining six will be upgraded with enhanced maritime strike capabilities, says Defence. Defence will work with industry partners to redeploy the Anzac class sustainment workforce across the Henderson precinct.

The Government has also accepted the independent analysis’ recommendations to field 25 minor war vessels to contribute to civil maritime security operations, including six Arafura-class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs).

“The enhanced lethality surface combatant fleet will ensure the Navy is optimised for operations in our current and future environment, underpinned by the meticulous assessment conducted by the Independent Analysis Team,” said Minister for Defence Richard Marles. “Australia’s modern society and economy rely on access to the high seas: trade routes for our imports and exports, and the submarine cables for the data which enables our connection to the international economy.

“The Royal Australian Navy must be able to ensure the safety and security of our sea lines of communication and trade routes as they are fundamental to our way of life and our prosperity.”

“A strong Australia relies on a strong Navy, one that is equipped to conduct diplomacy in our region, deter potential adversaries, and defend our national interests when called,” added the Chief of Navy, VADM Mark Hammond AO. “The size, lethality and capabilities of the future surface combatant fleet ensures that our Navy is equipped to meet the evolving strategic challenges of our region.”

The RAN’s future fleet is intended to help ensure the safety and security of Australia’s sea lines of communication and maritime trade and will constitute the largest number of surface combatants since WWII.

The Hilarides review of the RAN’s surface combatant fleet found the current surface fleet was the oldest the RAN has operated in its history and emphasised the need for immediate action to boost Navy’s Anti-Air Warfare (AAW), long-range strike, presence and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capabilities.

The Hunter-class frigates will be built at the Osborne shipyard in South Australia, and will be followed by the replacement for the Hobart-class DDGs. Meanwhile, the Hobart-class will be upgraded at Osborne with the latest US Navy Aegis and Saab Australia 9LV Mk3E combat systems.

The new general-purpose frigate will be accelerated to replace the ANZAC-class frigates, meaning the Transition Capability Assurance (TransCAP) upgrades are no longer required. The new frigates will be modern, capable and more lethal, requiring smaller crews than the ANZAC-class.

Consolidation of the Henderson precinct in Western Australia is currently underway, as recommended by the DSR. This should enable eight of the new general-purpose frigates to be built there and will also enable a pathway to build six new Large Optionally Crewed Surface Vessels in Western Australia.

The Australian Government has committed itself to sovereign continuous naval shipbuilding in Australia and says the RAN’s future fleet will provide a stable and ongoing pipeline of work to the 2040s and beyond.