Summary
HMAS Hunter (FFG) is the lead ship of the Hunter-class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy.
 Type 26 frigate
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Australia | |
| Name | Hunter |
| Namesake | John Hunter |
| Ordered | 30 June 2018 |
| Builder | BAE Systems Australia, Osborne |
| Cost | AU$3.9 billion |
| Laid down | Expected, 2023 |
| Commissioned | Expected, 2031 |
| Identification | Pennant number: |
| Status | Ordered |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Hunter-class frigate |
| Displacement | 8,800 t (8,700 long tons; 9,700 short tons) full load displacement |
| Length | 149.9 m (492 ft) |
| Beam | 20.8 m (68 ft)[3] |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 27+ knots |
| Range | 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) in electric motor drive[1] |
| Complement | 180 personnel, with accommodation for 208 |
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Electronic warfare & decoys | Nulka decoy launchers |
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried |
|
| Aviation facilities | |
| Notes | |
Development and design edit
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.[6] 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.[7]
The Hunter-class frigate will be an Australian variation of the Type 26 class frigate that is to be operated by the Royal Navy from the mid-2020s. The class will have a 8,800-tonne (8,700-long-ton; 9,700-short-ton) full load displacement and will be approximately 150 metres (490 ft) in length. The vessel will be capable of sailing in excess of 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph) and will have a full complement of 180 crew.[8][1]
Construction and career edit
Hunter was ordered on 30 June 2018 and named after Vice Admiral John Hunter. She will be built by BAE Systems Australia in Osborne.[9] First steel was cut on prototype blocks in December 2021. This is to be followed in 2023 with first steel being cut on blocks that will actually be used in ships of the class.[10] The ship is expected to be laid down in 2023 or later and commissioned in 2031.[11]
References edit
- ^ a b c "Hunter Class FFG". Royal Australian Navy. n.d. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
- ^ Kerr, Julian (17 May 2017). "Anti-submarine future frigates to be armed with SM-2 missiles to blunt far-distant attacks". The Australian. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
- ^ "Hunter Class FFG". www.navy.gov.au. Royal Australian Navy. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
- ^ "Joint Media Release - Prime Minister, Minister for Defence and Minister for Defence Industry - New Approach to Naval Combat Systems". Department of Defence. 3 October 2017. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
- ^ Kerr, Julian (5 March 2019). "The Type 26 frigate mission bay. Part 2 – configuration and contents". Save the Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 2019-03-22. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
- ^ 2016 Defence White Paper (PDF). p. 93. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-04-03. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
- ^ Pyne, Christopher (2017-03-31). "$35 billion Future Frigate Tender". www.minister.defence.gov.au. Archived from the original on 2017-04-03. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
- ^ Wroe, David (28 June 2018). "British frigate program to seed Australia's own warship industry, Turnbull says". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 2018-06-28. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- ^ Kuper, Stephen (2018-06-28). "Here comes the Hunter: BAE awarded $35bn SEA 5000 Future Frigate contract". www.defenceconnect.com.au. Archived from the original on 2020-11-09. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
- ^ Roberts, Peter (August 28, 2022). "First Hunter frigate block emerges after 45,000 work hours". AuManafacturing. Archived from the original on December 27, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
- ^ "Australia's Hunter-class frigates are coming, but maybe not soon enough". The Strategist. 2020-11-26. Archived from the original on 2020-11-26. Retrieved 2020-12-10.