| Document Name: | Enhanced Lethality Surface Combatant Review |
| Date Presented: | 20 February 2024 |
| Signers: | 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 (also known by the Independent Analysis of Navy’s Surface Combatant Fleet) 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.
https://www.defence.gov.au/about/reviews-inquiries/independent-analysis-navy-surface-combatant-fleet - 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 | SEA3000 | Acquire at least 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.[5] 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.
The first ship of the class, HMAS Hunter, had its steel-cut on 21 June 2024, and is expected to be launched in 2029-2030.[7]
(SEA3000)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'.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10] The Government has also agreed to investigate whether the vessels could be used in a specialised role, such as mine countermeasure.https://www.defence.gov.au/about/reviews-inquiries/independent-analysis-navy-surface-combatant-fleet
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.[11] 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).[12]
| 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 | Probable Surface Fleet of 2033 | Probable Surface Fleet of 2043 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Vessel | Remainder TBD | Image | Vessel | Remainder TBD | Image | Vessel | Remainder TBD |
| Tier 1HMAS Hobart HMAS Sydney HMAS Brisbane | 0 | Tier 1 HMAS Hobart HMAS Sydney HMAS Brisbane | 0 | Tier 1 HMAS Hobart HMAS Sydney HMAS Brisbane | 0 | |||
| Tier 2HMAS WarramungaHMAS Stuart HMAS Parramatta HMAS Ballarat HMAS Toowoomba HMAS Perth | 0 | Tier 2 HMAS Toowoomba HMAS Perth | 0 | Tier 1 HMAS Hunter HMAS Flinders HMAS Tasman TBD TBD TBD | 0 | |||
| Tier 3HMAS Arafura HMAS Eyre HMAS Pilbara HMAS Gippsland HMAS Illawarra HMAS Carpentaria | 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 3ADV Cape Fourcroy ADV Cape Inscription ADV Cape Otway ADV Cape Peron ADV Cape Naturaliste ADV Cape Capricorn ADV Cape Woolamai ADV Cape Pillar | 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.
The above amount of ships at each timeframe are commissioned ships. The ships may already be launched and undergoing sea-trials before this time.
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 with delivery to begin from 2024.[15] In July 2024, during Exercise RIMPAC, HMAS Sydney successfully fired its first NSM in the waters surrounding Hawaii.[16]
The first ship of the, Hunter-class frigate, HMAS Hunter, had its steel-cut on 21 June 2024, and is expected to be launched in 2029-2030.