Procurement programme of the Royal Australian Navy
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The Royal Australian Navy, although a significant force in the Asia-Pacific region, is nonetheless classed as a medium-sized navy. Its fleet is based around two main types of surface combatant, with limited global deployment and air power capability. However, in 2009, a white paper, Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030, was produced by the Australian government which set out a programme of defence spending that will see significant improvements to the RAN's fleet and capabilities.
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force, called the Commonwealth Naval Forces. Originally intended for local defence, the navy was granted the title of 'Royal Australian Navy' in 1911, and became increasingly responsible for defence of the region.
Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030 is an Australian Government white paper released on 2 May 2009. The publication seeks to provide guidance for Australia's defence policy and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) during the period 2009–2030.
The Anzac class is the latest major fleet type to enter service. The first unit was commissioned in 1996 and the last entered service in 2006. Starting in November 2003, all eight frigates underwent extensive upgrades under Project SEA 1448 Phase 2, the Anzac Ship Anti-Ship Missile Defence upgrade. Completed in two phases, the following systems were upgraded and installed:
Upgrade to the Saab Systems 9LV 453 Combat Management System.
Installation of an Australian CEAFAR S-band phased array radar and CEAMOUNT X-band multi-channel phased array missile illuminator to deliver enhanced target detection and better tracking, allowing Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles to engage multiple targets simultaneously.
Installation of an I-Band navigation radar to replace existing target indication and Krupp Atlas 9600 radar systems.
SAGEM was a major French company involved in defense electronics, consumer electronics and communication systems.
The X band is the designation for a band of frequencies in the microwave radio region of the electromagnetic spectrum. In some cases, such as in communication engineering, the frequency range of the X band is rather indefinitely set at approximately 7.0–11.2 GHz. In radar engineering, the frequency range is specified by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) at 8.0–12.0 GHz. The X band is used for radar, satellite communication, and wireless computer networks.
Final Operating Capability is scheduled for October 2017.[3][4][5] The vessels are expected to remain in service until 2032 where they will be replaced with up to nine frigates designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare.[6]
The most significant project currently under construction for the RAN are three Hobart-class air warfare destroyers under construction in Adelaide, South Australia to replace the Adelaide-class frigates. Although the 2009 Defence White Paper and original contract suggested that a fourth ship may be ordered, the 2016 Defence White Paper concluded that only three would be built. Each destroyer will be fitted with the Aegis combat system and will be based on the F100 design by Spanish shipbuilding company Navantia. Each vessel will be fitted with cruise missiles and the SM-6 anti-aircraft missile. Hobart was commissioned on 23 September 2017, with the following vessels to be delivered in 2018 and 2019. The destroyers are being built by ASC Pty Ltd, although the project involves a significant amount of work sub-contracted to other companies and locations.[7] The destroyers are to be named Hobart, Brisbane and Sydney.
The Hobart class is a ship class of three air warfare destroyers (AWDs) being built for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Planning for ships to replace the Adelaide-class frigates and restore the capability last exhibited by the Perth-class destroyers began by 2000, initially under acquisition project SEA 1400, which was re-designated SEA 4000. Although the designation "Air Warfare Destroyer" is used to describe ships dedicated to the defence of a naval force from aircraft and missile attack, the planned Australian destroyers are expected to also operate in anti-surface, anti-submarine, and naval gunfire support roles.
Navantia is a Spanish state-owned shipbuilding company, which offers its services to both military and civil sector. It is the fifth-largest shipbuilder in Europe, and the ninth-largest in the world with shipyards around the globe.
The RIM-174 Standard Extended Range Active Missile (ERAM), or Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) is a missile in current production for the United States Navy. It was designed for extended range anti-air warfare (ER-AAW) purposes providing capability against fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, anti-ship cruise missiles in flight, both over sea and land, and terminal ballistic missile defense. It can also be used as a high speed anti-ship missile. The missile uses the airframe of the earlier SM-2ER Block IV (RIM-156A) missile, adding the active radar homing seeker from the AIM-120C AMRAAM in place of the semi-active seeker of the previous design. This will improve the capability of the Standard missile against highly agile targets, and targets beyond the effective range of the launching vessels' target illumination radars. Initial operating capability was planned for 2013 and was achieved on November 27, 2013. The SM-6 is not meant to replace the SM-2 series of missiles, but will serve alongside and provide extended range and increased firepower. It was approved for export in January 2017.
Hunter-class frigate
With the Anzac-class frigates due to begin retiring in the late 2020s, work on a replacement program has begun. The program is expected to cost AU$35billion and a request for tender for the vessel design was released in March 2017 to three contenders: Navantia, Fincantieri, and BAE Systems as part of a competitive evaluation process. In June 2018, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced that a variation of the BAE design had been selected as the preferred tender for the Hunter-class frigates.[8] Construction will begin in Adelaide, South Australia in 2020.[9] Australian shipbuilding company ASC will become a subsidiary of BAE Systems Australia for the duration of the build.[10]
Malcolm Bligh Turnbull is an Australian former politician who was the 29th Prime Minister of Australia from 2015 to 2018. He served twice as Leader of the Liberal Party, firstly from 2008 to 2009 when he was also Leader of the Opposition, and a second time from 2015 to 2018. He was the MP for Wentworth in the House of Representatives from 2004 to 2018.
The Hunter-class frigate is a future class of frigates for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to replace the Anzac-class. Construction is expected to begin in 2020, with the first of nine vessels to enter service in the late 2020s. The Program is expected to cost AU$35 billion 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.
ASC Pty Ltd, formerly the Australian Submarine Corporation, is an Australian government business enterprise involved with Australian naval shipbuilding, headquartered in Osborne, South Australia. It is notable for the construction and maintenance of the Collins-class submarine fleet operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the construction of three Hobart-class destroyers for the RAN with the first delivered in mid-2017.
Amphibious warfare
HMAS Canberra in 2016
The RAN's amphibious capabilities was greatly increased by a new class of two Canberra-class amphibious vessels. These ships, based on Navantia's Strategic Projection Ship (later commissioned into the Spanish Navy as Spanish shipJuan Carlos I), displace approximately 27,000 tonnes, can transport 1,000 personnel and 150 vehicles, and can transport these ashore through landing craft carried in a well deck, or helicopters, with up to six operating simultaneously from each ship's flight deck. The new ships, named HMASCanberra and HMASAdelaide, their hulls were built at Navantia's shipyard in Spain, then transported to BAE Systems Australia (BAE acquired Tenix Defence after contract awarded) facilities at Williamstown,Victoria for finishing. The two ships replaced the Kanimbla-class amphibious vessels. HMASTobruk was to be replaced by a strategic sealift vessel of 10,000 to 15,000 tons displacement, which will provides the capacity to transport equipment, supplies, helicopters, and soldiers into zones of operation, and embark or disembark these without port facilities. .In the 2016 defence white paper it revealed that HMAS Choules would fulfill this role. Following the early decommissioning of both Kanimblas and Tobruk being out of action, multiple ships were purchased and or leased to cover the lack of amphibious capability. The RAN planned also replace the six Balikpapan-class heavy landing craft with six larger vessels. In mid-2011, the RAN acquired the former British Royal Fleet Auxiliary landing ship RFALargs Bay, which entered service in December 2011 as HMASChoules.
Up to the turn of the 21st century, the RAN's main patrol force was made up of the Fremantleclass. However, these have been replaced by the new Armidaleclass. The first of these, HMASArmidale, was commissioned in June 2005, and was the first of fourteen. These vessels are significantly more capable than the Fremantle class, and better equipped for a greater range of sea conditions.
The 2009 Defence White Paper announced that a new class of 20 offshore combatant vessels would replace the Armidale and Huon classes, along with the Leeuwin and Paluma-class survey ships.[12] The multi-role ships are predicted to displace anywhere up to 2,000 tonnes, and may be equipped with a helicopter or unmanned aerial vehicle.[12] However the 2016 Defense White Paper decreased the amount of planned vessels to twelve and stated that they would only replace the Armidales while the other classes would see life-extension work. Lurssen's OPV 80 design was chosen. The class was named Arafura-classoffshore patrol vessel (OPV). The first ship will be named HMASArafura.
During the 2019 election campaign, Scott Morrison announced that one hydrographic survey ship and two minehunters would be constructed from the mid 2020s in the Henderson Shipyard Precinct Under SEA 1905 and SEA 2400.[citation needed]
The Collins-class submarines, the first of which entered service in 1996, are due to receive a major upgrade to their combat systems, with technology based on the US Navy's Virginiaclass. This new system will be introduced in conjunction with the new heavyweight torpedo.
In the longer term, the Collins-class submarines will begin to reach the end of their useful life in 2026.[13] To meet an in-service date of 2026, advanced design work on the next generation of Australian submarines will begin by 2014–2015. The submarines are likely to be Australian-built, conventional submarines equipped with air independent propulsion and advanced combat and communications systems.[14] Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon ordered planning to begin on the next generation of submarines to replace the Royal Australian Navy's Collins-class fleet. The 17-year project will be the largest, longest and most expensive defence acquisition since Australia's Federation, potentially costing up to $25billion. The submarines are expected to be capable of carrying long-range cruise missiles and midget-subs.[15]
According to the 2009 Defence White Paper, the submarine fleet is to be expanded to 12. The submarines will be equipped with cruise missiles and the world's most advanced torpedoes, sonars, combat systems, intelligence gathering systems as well as also being able to support special forces operations. The first submarine is expected to be in service by 2030 with the decommissioning of HMASCollins. The 2009 White Paper predicted the cost of the new submarines at $35billion.
In 2018, Naval Group's Shortfin Barracuda design was chosen as the design for the new vessels. It was announced that these vessels would be designated the Attack-classsubmarine with the first vessel being named HMAS Attack.
Afloat Support
The RAN currently has two ships used for afloat support/replenishment at sea; HMASSirius is a fleet oiler, with a limited dry stores capability, while HMASSuccess is a general dry stores/fuel replenishment vessel. The navy has initiated a project that will ultimately see two new purpose built vessels enter service by 2020. Sirius was purchased second hand (double hulled to meet new international regulations) in 2005 as MT Delos and converted to replace HMASWestralia in 2006. Then, as Sirius reaches the end of its service life around 2018, a new vessel will be purpose built. At around the same time (approximately 2015), a replacement for Success will be constructed.
The Minister of Defence confirmed in March 2016 that Navantia had been selected to build the next two replenishment vessels. The project is expected to cost anywhere between $1 and $2billion. Navantia had offered Australia a design based on the Spanish Navy's current replenishment vessel Cantabria, which entered service in 2011.[16] The ships will be named HMASSupply and HMASStalwart.[17]Supply was launched at Ferrol on 23 November 2018.[2]
Fleet Air Arm
One of the RAN's MRH-90s in 2011
The Fleet Air Arm is currently an all rotary winged organisation. Previously 16 S-70B-2 Seahawks helicopters were the combat helicopters of the Air Arm. The Seahawks were being upgraded with FLIR and enhanced ECM, to improve both their surveillance and self-defence capabilities. In the 2009 Defence White Paper the Australian Government stated that it will urgently acquire at least 24 new naval combat helicopters.[18]
The Navy's Sea Kings, which have been in service for twenty years, will be replaced by MRH 90 helicopters modified for naval purposes by 2010. These aircraft were to be purchased as part a joint Army-Navy helicopter purchase.[19] All 6 have been delivered.
The 2009 Defence White Paper, Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030, stated that the RAN needed to replace its 16 Seahawk helicopters with at least 24 new helicopters by 2014. In June 2011 the Australian government announced the purchase of 24 MH-60R "Romeo" Seahawk helicopters as a replacement for the S-70-B2. All 24 have been delivered.
List of major current and future projects
(Updated to reflect changes made in the Defence Capability Plan – June 2011 Supplement)
JP 2048 – Amphibious Deployment and Sustainment program
Refit in Falmouth, UK completed, and vessel handed over to the Australian government. As of late November 2011, Choules was at sea on the delivery voyage with her arrival set for 10 December 2011 and her commissioning as HMASChoules on 13 December 2011.
HMASPerth successfully completed trials of ASMD upgrade in July 2011.
The upgrade of the other seven Anzac-class frigates has been given government approval.[22] The upgrade is due to begin early 2012 and be complete by 2017.
Phase 4A: ES system improvement given first-pass approval.
Phase 4B: AN/SPS-49 (Air Search Radar) replacement budget increased from $100–$300m to $300–$500m.
1 2 Department of Defence (2 May 2009). Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030. Commonwealth of Australia. pp.72–3. ISBN978-0-642-29702-0. OCLC426475923.
At the beginning of the 1990s the Royal Navy was a force designed for the Cold War. The main purpose of its fleet, based around three small aircraft carriers and a force of anti-submarine frigates and destroyers, was to search for, and destroy if required, Soviet submarines in the North Atlantic. The 1982 Falklands War also demonstrated a requirement for the Royal Navy to maintain a global reach and expeditionary capability.
The Type 26 frigate or City-class frigate is a class of frigate being built for the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. The ship design and manufacture programme, known as the Global Combat Ship, was created by the UK Ministry of Defence to partially replace the navy's thirteen Type 23 frigates, and for export. It will be a multi-mission warship designed to support anti-submarine warfare, air defence and general purpose operations.
The Anzac class is a ship class of ten frigates; eight operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and two operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). During the 1980s, the RAN began plans to replace the River-class destroyer escorts with a mid-capability patrol frigate, and settled on the idea of modifying a proven foreign design for Australian conditions. Around the same time, the RNZN was seeking to replace their Leander-class frigates while maintaining blue-water capabilities. A souring of relations between New Zealand and the United States of America in relation to New Zealand's nuclear-free zone and the ANZUS security treaty prompted New Zealand to seek improved ties with other nations, particularly Australia. As both nations were seeking warships of similar capabilities, the decision was made in 1987 to collaborate on their acquisition. The project name is taken from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps of the First World War.
HMAS Parramatta is an Anzac-class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). One of ten warships built for the RAN and Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) based on the MEKO 200 design, Parramatta was laid down in 1999, launched in 2003, and commissioned into the RAN in 2003. During her career, the frigate has been deployed to the Middle East on several occasions. In early 2015, Parramatta was docked to undergo the Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) upgrade. She completed these upgrades in April 2016.
HMAS Stuart is an Anzac-class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). She was built at Williamstown in Victoria, and commissioned into the RAN in 2002. The frigate is operational as of 2016.
HMAS Anzac is the lead ship of the Anzac-class frigates in use with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). Entering Australian service in 1996, the frigate operated as part of the INTERFET peacekeeping taskforce in 1999. In 2003, she was involved in the Battle of Al Faw, and became the first RAN ship to fire in anger since the Vietnam War. The ship is operational as of 2018.
HMAS Arunta is an Anzac-class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The ship, named for the Arrernte people, was laid down in 1995 and commissioned in 1998. Since entering service, Arunta has performed a wide range of duties, including border protection patrols in northern Australian waters, and several deployments to the Persian Gulf.
HMAS Perth is an Anzac-class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The last ship of the class to be completed, she was built by Tenix Defence Systems and commissioned into the RAN in 2006. In 2007, Perth became the first major warship of the RAN to be commanded by a woman. During 2010 and 2011, the frigate was used as the testbed for a major upgrade to the Anzac class' ability to defend themselves from anti-ship missiles.
HMAS Toowoomba is the seventh Anzac-class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). She was laid down in 2002 by Tenix Defence Systems and commissioned in 2005.
HMAS Warramunga is an Anzac-class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). One of ten frigates built for the Australian and New Zealand navies, Warramunga was laid down by Tenix Defence Systems in 1997 and commissioned in 2001. During her career, the frigate has operated in the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Catalyst, and undertaken anti-piracy operations off Somalia. Warramunga underwent the Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) upgrade during 2014. She is active as of April 2019
HMAS Ballarat is an Anzac-class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The frigate was laid down in 2000 and commissioned into the RAN in mid-2004. Since entering service, Ballarat has been involved in border protection as part of Operation Relex II, was deployed to the Gulf for Operation Catalyst, and was one of the two ships involved in the Operation Northern Trident 2009 round-the-world voyage. Ballarat has undergone the Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) upgrade, completing in 2015.
The Adelaide class was a ship class of six guided missile frigates constructed in Australia and the United States of America for service in the Royal Australian Navy. The class was based on the United States Navy's Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, but modified for Australian requirements. The first four vessels were built in the United States, while the other two were constructed in Australia.
The Canberra class is a ship class of two Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ships built for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Planning to upgrade the navy's amphibious fleet began in 2000, based on Australian experiences leading the International Force for East Timor peacekeeping operation. With a new climate for growing Australian Navy spending, a desire existed for forward defence capability for landing and supporting troops on Asian territory, that had never existed in Australian history, even with the old Majestic-class light fleet carriers, HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Sydney in the 1970s. In 2004, French company Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN) and Spanish company Navantia were invited to tender proposals, with DCN offering the Mistral-class amphibious assault ship and Navantia proposing the "Buque de Proyección Estratégica" design. The Spanish design was selected in 2007, with Navantia responsible for construction of the ships from the keel to the flight deck, and BAE Systems Australia handling the fabrication of the superstructure and fitting out.
HMAS Canberra (L02) is the lead ship of the Canberra-class landing helicopter dock in service with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). It is the current flagship of the RAN fleet. Construction of the ship started in Spain in 2008, with the hull launched by Navantia in 2011. The hull was then transported to Australia in late 2012 for completion by BAE Systems Australia. Canberra was commissioned on 28 November 2014.
HMAS Adelaide (L01) is the second of two Canberra-class landing helicopter dock (LHD) ships of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Construction of the ship started at Navantia's Spanish shipyard with steel-cutting in February 2010. The ship was laid down in February 2011, and launched on 4 July 2012. Delivery to Australia for fitting out at BAE Systems Australia's facilities in Victoria was scheduled for 2013, but did not occur until early 2014. Despite construction delays and predictions the ship was commissioned in December 2015.
Cantabria (A15) is a replenishment oiler operated by the Spanish Navy. Acquired to provide logistical support for the Spanish fleet, Cantabria was commissioned in 2010. Cantabria is the second-largest naval ship currently operated by the Spanish, behind Juan Carlos I.
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