To protect Australia’s interests and people, we need a warship that can detect, deter and defend against threats if required – and the Hunter class frigate delivers this for our nation.
Not only will the nine frigates hunt submarines; they will also be highly capable air and surface combatants, exactly what is required in periods of global uncertainty.
Hunter’s military capability is unrivalled, marrying the best that Australia, the UK and the US can offer to help us achieve maritime superiority in our region. The stealth inherent within the design concept, combined with the Aegis combat system, CEA radar and Saab Australia tactical interface will complement other modifications including guided weapons, electronic warfare, specialised sensors and aviation systems, to provide a truly multi-mission capability.
To secure our country’s borders and protect Australians, the Royal Australian Navy is developing a substantial undersea warfare capability – a capability based on an array of linked platforms working in combination.
This includes the existing Collins class submarines, the newly acquired P8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft and Seahawk Romeo anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters. The future will see the addition of new submarines, autonomous systems such as the Triton, and the Hunter class frigates.
The transformative approach adopted for the Hunter program is world-leading; our digital design basis coupled with investing in one of the world’s most advanced naval shipyards is truly exceptional and unlike anything I have seen in my 30 years building and sustaining warships.
Image: Hunter program progress at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in SA: the first two fabricated units undergoing vertical construction, which is the process of joining units together to form a prototype block.
In terms of sovereign capability, our achievements of the last 12 months are significant.
The Osborne shipyard is already one of the world's most technologically advanced, and during prototyping we have demonstrated the automation, advanced manufacturing methods and digital innovations are delivering far superior outcomes than traditional shipbuilding methods.
Our early success measured so far bodes well for our shipbuilding future as a nation.
We have a highly-skilled workforce that is leading the globe with shipbuilding techniques and processes that ultimately require less rework; delivering production efficiencies, greater precision and quality and, importantly, delivering improved safety outcomes.
Every time I’m in one of the manufacturing halls I see a new accomplishment, and within weeks our teams will oversee the next big milestone: joining four units together to form the first prototype block.
Before long we will begin construction of the first of several warships that will form the centrepiece of a rejuvenated surface fleet for our Navy, providing security for Australia for decades to come.
