Australian large optionally-crewed surface vessel program

Not to be confused with Large Unmanned Surface Vehicle.

Class overview
Builders	Australian Marine Complex (Austal)
Operators	Royal Australian Navy (planned)
Built	TBA
In commission	TBA
Planned	6
Completed	0
General characteristics
Type	Optionally-crewed arsenal ship
Complement	Optionally-crewed; RAN intends to crew them
Sensors & processing systems	Aegis Baseline 9
Armament	Missiles: 32-cell Mk41 VLS

The Australian large optionally-crewed surface vessel program (LOSV) is a procurement program of the Royal Australian Navy aimed at delivering 6 large optionally crewed arsenal ships, armed with 32 Mark 41 vertical launching system cells hosting a range of surface-to-air, land-attack, anti-ship and possibly anti-ballistic missiles. The requirement for these vessels was outlined in the 2024 Surface Fleet Review.

The vessels were speculated to be of the same class as the related American program, however in November 2025 Australian shipbuilder Austal revealed their pitch, the Vantage-class

Design

The ships are intended to be based on the United States' future Large Uncrewed Surface Vehicle, nonetheless, shipbuilder Austal released a pitch for the program. ^[1] The vessels are intended to be crewed, however the optionally-crewed nature allows for the ships to be autonomous when required. The ships are slated to have 32 strike-length Mark 41 VLS cells, the same number as the much larger New-FFM-class ships ordered for the RAN as well. ^[2]

Ships

Name	Pennant	Builder	Ordered	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Status
TBA		Australian Marine Complex					Not yet ordered
TBA							Not yet ordered
TBA							Not yet ordered
TBA							Not yet ordered
TBA							Not yet ordered
TBA							Not yet ordered

See also

• Australian general purpose frigate program
• Large Unmanned Surface Vehicle
• SSN-AUKUS
• Australian Surface Fleet Review
• Future of the Royal Australian Navy

References

1. "Austal unveils Vantage-class optionally-crewed vessels - Australian Defence Magazine". www.australiandefence.com.au. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
2. Garman, Liam (20 February 2024). "'Optionally crewed' vessels provide VLS firepower for Tier 1 combatants". www.defenceconnect.com.au. Retrieved 8 November 2025.