Minister for Defence Richard Marles Highlights the Advanced Capabilities and Strategic Importance of the New Hunter Class Frigates

Minister for Defence, Richard Marles declared the future Hunter Class frigates as the “heart of Australia’s surface combatant fleet” during a press conference at RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory. Designed to perform a range of missions, the frigates will be primarily used for anti-submarine warfare (ASW).

 

“The Hunter Class frigates are going to be as capable a frigate as exists in the world today. Hunter Class frigates will be the quietest frigate that exists in the world today. And we are very excited about what Hunter will add to our surface fleet”.

 

The BAE System’s Global Combat Ship will provide Australia with one of the most advanced anti-submarine warships worldwide with sufficient range and endurance to operate effectively throughout the region. The frigates will have the flexibility to support air defence, anti-surface warfare (ASuW), surveillance and intelligence and interdiction, along with non-warfare roles such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

 

The Hunter class frigates can be operated by a core crew of 180 members and can accommodate 208 personnel in the berths. The modular design allows uncrewed surface vessels, underwater vehicles and aerial systems to be housed and deployed from the mission bay when required. The mission bay will also include housing supplies to assist humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions.

 

“It will really be the heart of our surface combatant fleet. Given, in a sense, what this announcement today is about is an acknowledgment of the vastness of our ocean approaches, of the areas that we need to surveil, of the task at hand for our Defence Force, in terms of surveillant and going after the assets of any adversary at sea, Hunter is right at the forefront of that as well. So, we are really looking forward to Hunter” said Richard Marles during the press conference.

 

The Hunter Class will begin to be entering service in the early 2030s, replacing the 8 ANZAC Class frigates which have been in service since 1996. The first three Hunter Class ships will proudly carry the name of three major Australian regions HMAS Flinders (II), HMAS Hunter, and HMAS Tasman.

 

Read More:

Hunter Class Frigate

Hunter Class Multi-Mission Frigates, Australia

The Australian Defence Export Catalogue 2024