Page 30 - Australian Defence Magazine April-May 2021

30 SEA POWER HUNTER CLASS
APRIL-MAY 2021 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
HUNTER AIC
FOUNDATION MAY NOT
BE AS SOLID AS SOLD
Defence has two massive shipbuilding programs on its books; the Attack class submarine
at $90 billion plus and the Hunter class frigate program at $45 billion for nine ships. The submarine side of the equation has been examined at length but Hunter less so.
KATHERINE ZIESING | CANBERRA
ON December 14 2018, the Government signed the Head Contract with ASC Shipbuilding Pty Ltd now known as BAE Systems Maritime Australia, a subsidiary of BAE Sys- tems Australia Ltd, to build the Hunter class frigates under Project Sea 5000 Phase 1.
The Hunter Class Frigate Program (HCFP) will provide nine frigates optimised for anti-submarine warfare to re- place the Anzac class frigates based on the UK’s Type 26 Global Combat Ship, modified to meet Australian require- ments. The same reference design is going to be in service with three of the Five Eyes nations: UK, Australia and Can- ada under various procurement models.
The design changes include:
• The Aegis combat management system with the Saab
Australia-developed Australian Interface;
• The Australian designed and built CEAFAR2 phased ar-
ray radar;
• Integration of systems to support Australian weapons;
• Integration of the Seahawk Romeo Maritime Combat Helicopter;
• Australian communications systems; and • Australian legislative requirements.
The Government approved the initial budget of $6 billion for the design activity to incorporate the Australian require- ments, to conduct prototyping of ship blocks in the new ship- yard under construction at Osborne in South Australia, and to order long-lead items for the first three ships, the first batch.
BAE Systems Maritime Australia is implementing a strat- egy to maximise opportunities for small to medium Austra- lian suppliers in the build and sustainment phases (includ- ing their current supply chains), according to the Hunter class Defence website. BAE Systems is contracted to deliver 54 per cent during the initial ‘Design and Productionisa- tion’ phase and is already exceeding those targets, on the way to the contracted commitment of a minimum 58 per cent over the life of the program.
BAE