Enhanced Lethality Surface Combatant Review | |
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![]() Surface Fleet Review cover | |
Presented | 20 February 2024 |
Signatories | Minister for Defence - Richard Marles Minister for Defence Industry - Pat Conroy |
Subject | The Royal Australian Navy's surface fleet |
Purpose | To determine the future of the RAN surface fleet |
The Enhanced Lethality Surface Combatant Review is an independent review into the surface fleet of the Royal Australian Navy, authorised as a result of the larger Defence Strategic Review. The review examines the future of the RAN, and attempts to reconcile what has been a period of 'neglection' of the Navy. [1] The review was announced to the public on 20 February 2024 by Minister for Defence and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, as well as Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy. [2]
The Surface Fleet Review, as well as the Defence Strategic Review aim to counteract the increasing military power of a belligerent China. [3] This coupled with the major focus and prioritisation of the Australian Army over other branches has created a ground for focus on the neglected Royal Australian Navy.
- Department of Defence Surface Fleet Review
Program | Tier | Codename | Recommendation | Agreed Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hobart-class destroyer | Tier 1 | N/A | Upgrade ship's Aegis, missile capability and radar | ![]() |
Hunter-class frigate | Tier 1 | SEA5000 Phase 1 | Reduce number from 9 to 6 vessels | ![]() |
Hunter-class frigate | Tier 1 | SEA5000 Phase 1 | Adjust Hunter-class to be Tomahawk capable | ![]() |
Hobart-class destroyer | Tier 1 | N/A | Commence planning for Hobart-class replacement to ensure safety for domestic ship industry | ![]() |
General Purpose Frigate | Tier 2 | N/A | Acquire atleast 7, optimally 11 frigates, they will be built offshore than transferred to domestic building, use 4 frigates for the selection process | ![]() |
General Purpose Frigate | Tier 2 | N/A | Upgrade Anzac-class to prevent capability gap whilst waiting for new GPFs | ![]() |
The Government plans to upgrade the Tier 1 Hobart-class destroyers. The major upgrades include increasing the Aegis Combat System from Baseline 8 to 9, and possibly upgrading the radar system. The shipbuilders will also alter the missile cells so as to accommodate for more advanced missiles such as the Tomahawk, the Naval Strike Missile and the SM-6 anti-ballistic missile.
(SEA5000 Phase 1)
As a result of the review, the Government has agreed to make various concessions to the Hunter-class frigate program, the largest of which perhaps being the reduction of the total order of vessels, of which the Government has decided to procure 6 vessels instead of the original 9 that were planned. [6] The Government also followed the recommendation of the review to assess the feasibility of adapting the frigate to allow for the launching of the Tomahawk cruise missile.
In response to the ageing nature of the current Anzac-class frigates of the RAN and in accordance with the recommendations of the review, the Government has agreed to procure 11 'General Purpose Frigates'. [7] They are intended to form part of a 'tier 2' fleet, that is, be less expensive than their 'tier 1' counterparts (Hobart and Hunter classes) whilst still retaining adequate firepower, especially when it comes to Vertical launching system (VLS) cells. The GPF's will gradually replace the Anzac frigates as they come out of service, and the first batch are to be built in an accelerated manner overseas, and later transition to Henderson Naval Base for construction. The Government has outlined 4 shortlisted ships to be considered for the program, these are:
The Government will, as a result of the review, acquire six 'Large Optionally-Crewed Surface Vessels'. The main role is these vessels will be to act as missile boats and will have 32 vertical-launch cells, but few close-in weapons. [8] The Government plans to collaborate with the US an their unmanned-vessel program, however it the intention for the Government to crew these vessels.
(SEA1180 Phase 1)
The review emphasised the belief that the Arafura-class are under-gunned and do not possess significant offensive or defensive capability, and as such, the Government has agreed to reduce the amount of Arafura vessels from the planned 12, down to six vessels. [9] The Government has also agreed to investigate whether the vessels could be used in a specialised role, such as mine countermeasure.
The Government has agreed to work to use the Cape-class primarily as an Australian Border Force vessel, as well as manufacture capability on a number of the vessels that would prove useful to the Navy. [10] The Government has also agreed to put in place a framework that would allow for all Cape-class vessels to be under the overall responsibility of the Department of Defence, yet maintenance would be funded by the appropriate organisation (ABF or Navy). [11]
Vessel | Type | Manufacturer | Quantity before | Quantity after | Changes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hobart-class | Destroyer | ASC Pty Ltd | 3 (built) | 3 (built) | Upgrading capability, including Baseline 9 AEGIS |
Hunter-class | Frigate | BAE Systems | 9 | 6 | Less vessels, better capability |
General Purpose Frigate | Frigate | TBD | ~ | 11 | Plans to procure 11 frigates from overseas (then domestically built) |
Large Optionally-Crewed Surface Vessel | Optionally-Crewed Vessel | Overseas Henderson | ~ | 6 | Plans to procure 6 vessels that are optionally-crewed, and have 36 VLS cells, the ADF plans to crew them |
Arafura-class | Patrol boat | ASC Forgacs | 12 | 6 | Reduce number of vessels from 12 to 6, increase capability, explore options for specialised operations |
Cape-class | Border vessel | Austal | 18 | 18 | Increase capability of vessels for Navy use, bring both ABF and Navy variants under Defence control |
Probable Surface Fleet of 2028 [12] | Probable Surface Fleet of 2033 [12] | Probable Surface Fleet of 2043 [12] | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Image | Vessel | Remainder TBD | Image | Vessel | Remainder TBD | Image | Vessel | Remainder TBD |
![]() | Tier 1 | 0 | ![]() | Tier 1 HMAS Hobart HMAS Sydney HMAS Brisbane | 0 | ![]() | Tier 1 HMAS Hobart HMAS Sydney HMAS Brisbane | 0 |
![]() | Tier 2 HMAS Warramunga HMAS Stuart | 0 | ![]() | Tier 2 HMAS Toowoomba HMAS Perth | 0 | ![]() | Tier 1 HMAS Hunter HMAS Flinders HMAS Tasman TBD TBD TBD | 0 |
Tier 3 HMAS Arafura | 0 | ![]() | Tier 2 GPF 1 GPF 2 GPF 3 GPF 4 | 7 | ![]() | Tier 2 GPF 1 GPF 2 GPF 3 GPF 4 GPF 5 GPF 6 GPF 7 GPF 8 GPF 9 GPF 10 GPF 11 | 0 | |
![]() | Tier 3 ADV Cape Fourcroy | 4 ADV Cape Solander ADV Cape Schanck TBA TBA | ![]() | Tier 2 LOCV 1 LOCV 2 LOCV 3 LOCV 4 LOCV 5 LOCV 6 | 0 | ![]() | Tier 2 LOCV 1 LOCV 2 LOCV 3 LOCV 4 LOCV 5 LOCV 6 | 0 |
The above table is a probable example based on information available. [13] Chances are the fleet of 2043 will include some Tier 3 vessels, however naturally these haven't been announced yet.
In May 2024, it was proven that the newest destroyer of the RAN, HMAS Sydney, was fitted with Naval Strike Missile launchers. [14] According to the SIPRI arms transfers database, Australia placed an order for an unknown quantity of the Block-1A NSMs will delivery to begin from 2024. [15]
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the naval force of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of Navy (CN) Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AM, RAN. CN is also jointly responsible to the Minister of Defence (MINDEF) and the Chief of Defence Force (CDF). The Department of Defence as part of the Australian Public Service administers the ADF. In 2023, the Surface Fleet Review was introduced to outline the future of the Navy.
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 German 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 2021.
HMAS Sydney was an Adelaide-class guided-missile frigate of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The frigate was one of six modified Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates ordered from 1977 onwards, and the third of four to be constructed in the United States of America. Laid down and launched in 1980, Sydney was named for the capital city of New South Wales, and commissioned into the RAN in 1983.
HMAS Anzac was 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.
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 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 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 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 October 2022.
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 Hobart class is a ship class of three air warfare destroyers (AWDs) 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 destroyers are expected to also operate in anti-surface, anti-submarine, and naval gunfire support roles.
The Naval Strike Missile (NSM) is an anti-ship and land-attack missile developed by the Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA).
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. In recent times, Australia released its Surface Fleet Review in 2024, which analyses the future of the RAN and shows what the Government will procure.
HMAS Huon, named for the Huon River, was lead ship of the Huon class of minehunters operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The first of six ships built by a joint partnership of Australian Defence Industries (ADI) and Intermarine SpA, Huon's hull was fabricated at Intermarine's Italian shipyard, then freighted to ADI facilities at Newcastle for completion. She entered service in 1999, and was decommissioned on 30 May 2024.
The Typhoon is a type of remote weapon station manufactured by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems of Israel, and it shares similar design principles and common technologies with Samson Remote Controlled Weapon Station, a land-based system manufactured by the same developer. Like Samson RCWS, Typhoon is also multi-configurable.
The Arafura class is a class of offshore patrol vessels being built for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Initially proposed in the 2009 Defence White Paper and marked as procurement project SEA 1180, it was originally planned that 20 Offshore Combatant Vessels (OCV) would replace 26 vessels across four separate ship classes: the Armidale-class patrol boats, the Huon-class minehunters, the Leeuwin-class survey vessels, and the Paluma-class survey motor launches. Although having a common design, the ships would use a modular mission payload system to fulfill specific roles; primarily border patrol, mine warfare, and hydrographic survey. The 2013 Defence White Paper committed to the OCV project as a long-term goal, but opted in the short term for an accelerated procurement of an existing design to replace the Armidales, and life-extension refits for the other types. This resulted in the Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) project and the number of vessels reduced to 12. However, this was further increased to 14 when 2 further Mine Counter Measures variants were proposed under SEA 1905.
The Hunter-class frigate is a future class of six heavy frigates for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to replace the Anzac class.
In February 2024, the Australian Government announced a program to acquire eleven general purpose frigates for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). These warships arose from the Surface Fleet Review, and along with the larger Hunter-class frigates, will replace the Anzac-class frigates.