UK Defence Forum

Australia tipped to buy British naval frigates in $35 billion deal with old partner

Britain is strongly tipped to win the hard-fought contest to design and build Australia’s new $35 billion fleet of naval frigates in a move that would firm up the partnership with a key ally at a time of international political uncertainty.

Sources in Canberra and defence industry circles said it was all but certain that Britain’s BAE Systems would be chosen as the international partner to design and help build what will form the backbone of the Royal Australian Navy’s surface fleet for the coming decades.

Read More: https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal ... 4zmea.html

That article is suggesting we will know the winner next week, I hope that by suggesting such a thing they don’t jinx it

So will Type 26 end up selling more in exports than the Type 31e?

clinch wrote:So will Type 26 end up selling more in exports than the Type 31e?

Can't miss an opportunity for a good movie quote!
"Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn"
as long as one of them sells!

Time for a quick project rename to T26e

Design export (T26 and 90m OPV to Thai) and ship export (90m OPV to Brazil, Khareef to Oman, and (may be) Leander to Qatar) are different issues.

But,

Anyway if T26 were to really be selected as SEA5000, it is great!

donald_of_tokyo wrote:Design export (T26 and 90m OPV to Thai) and ship export (90m OPV to Brazil, Khareef to Oman, and (may be) Leander to Qatar) are different issues.

But,

Anyway if T26 were to really be selected as SEA5000, it is great!

And would winning the Aussie bid help with selection for the Canadian contract?

clinch wrote:And would winning the Aussie bid help with selection for the Canadian contract?

I think one could say the T26 has been on rails to win the Canadian CSC competition from the beginning. Looking at the technology partners it has involved and the vendors who didn't even bother entering.

The latest news on that programme is that bidders must submit their final bids (improved through a "cure" process) by 21 July. Final evaluation will then take place.

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/ ... nt-bidders

Decision could be announced in Adelaide this Friday:

https://www.afr.com/news/austal-asc-tip ... 619-h11kr0

"Multiple sources in the defence industry are anticipating Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will announce the winning international designer for the frigates in Adelaide on Friday, providing a much-needed fillip to Liberal candidate Georgina Downer's chances of prevailing in the Mayo byelection.

Cabinet's national security committee usually meets on Tuesdays but there were suggestions last night the final decision on the successful bidder would be put off until Thursday to avoid it leaking.

Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne declined to comment but has said a decision on the frigates was due by the end of June."

If the Australian government is anything like the UK government, this sounds a quiet little leak to test the media/public reactions. If no screams of indignation, the main announcement can go ahead as planned. If there are negative reactions, the decisions can be changed or delayed...

Amazing news if this one comes in!
As ever things sound too good to be true

Personally always thought, provided we ordered the full 13, the T26 had the better export potential. Units costs aren't helped by the reduced orders.

Israel’s armor specialist Plasan was selected to design and produce armor protection for Britain’s new Type 26 frigate. Plasan’s advanced armor technology has been implemented to protect armored vehicles and personnel, transport aircraft and helicopters as well as naval vessels.

full article https://defense-update.com/20180228_type-26_armor.html

Opinion3 wrote:Israel’s armor specialist Plasan was selected to design and produce armor protection for Britain’s new Type 26 frigate. Plasan’s advanced armor technology has been implemented to protect armored vehicles and personnel, transport aircraft and helicopters as well as naval vessels.

full article https://defense-update.com/20180228_type-26_armor.html

Is the article revealing another stealth cut?

The Royal Navy plans to replace eight Type 23 Duke class anti-submarine frigates with six Type 26s, based on BAE Systems’ ‘Global Combat Ship’ design.

I can assure that were such madness to go ahead it certainly won't be "stealth".

About the only thing the SNP are any good for is them making sure changes like that do not go unnoticed.

I wouldn't put it past the government. 12 Destroyers became 6. 13 Frigates could easily become 6 as well.

Nothing too unexpected I'm afraid. On the other hand, with 1 bln. per ship, I would cancel them all, and invested into lots of IH-based ships, with ASW capabilities added. 500 mil. instead of 250, but at least you would have the numbers.

abc123 wrote:Nothing too unexpected I'm afraid. On the other hand, with 1 bln. per ship, I would cancel them all, and invested into lots of IH-based ships, with ASW capabilities added. 500 mil. instead of 250, but at least you would have the numbers.

And in doing so crippling the RN's ASW capability, leaving it without any high end ASW focused ships at all; completely decimating the British shipbuilding industry, likely losing two massive export orders in the process and very possibly being a major contributor to the UK splitting in two.

Going from 13 to 8 was already a risk and reduction that was beyond unacceptable ruling. Going to 6 would be criminal negligence.

Cancelling outright through, that would be into the realms of objective madness.

Better to have 18 IH-based ships with ASW capabilities added than 6 Type 26. At least IMHO. That's way more work for Clyde. But, when I Said cancel, I meant before they were started, not now.

If we cut the Type 26 order to 6, I am moving to France.

RetroSicotte wrote:I can assure that were such madness to go ahead it certainly won't be "stealth".

About the only thing the SNP are any good for is them making sure changes like that do not go unnoticed.

I wouldn't put it past the government. 12 Destroyers became 6. 13 Frigates could easily become 6 as well.

Don't you find it odd that this article is four months old, and that no one has picked it up.May I suggest that this is just a case of poor reporting.

I remember reading this when it was first published, and completely dismissed it as such. How many times do we see this sort of thing on the many defence blogs/magazines. I doubt we should get too excited about it.

jonas wrote:Don't you find it odd that this article is four months old, and that no one has picked it up.May I suggest that this is just a case of poor reporting.

I remember reading this when it was first published, and completely dismissed it as such. How many times do we see this sort of thing on the many defence blogs/magazines. I doubt we should get too excited about it.

Probably, although in fairness I am simply replying to the "concept" as discussed here, rather than to a specific known plan. Nothing is certain until we hear from a first party source.

RetroSicotte wrote:

jonas wrote:Don't you find it odd that this article is four months old, and that no one has picked it up.May I suggest that this is just a case of poor reporting.

I remember reading this when it was first published, and completely dismissed it as such. How many times do we see this sort of thing on the many defence blogs/magazines. I doubt we should get too excited about it.

Probably, although in fairness I am simply replying to the "concept" as discussed here, rather than to a specific known plan. Nothing is certain until we hear from a first party source.

And with senior MoD/HMG, even then it isn't certain....

Why is everyone getting excited? One disreputable website misprinting is not worth the oxygen.

benny14 wrote:If we cut the Type 26 order to 6, I am moving to France.

Its not that bad is it?

abc123 wrote:Better to have 18 IH-based ships with ASW capabilities added than 6 Type 26. At least IMHO. That's way more work for Clyde. But, when I Said cancel, I meant before they were started, not now.

Anyway, IH-based ship, if it is 1/3 of cost of T26, there will be no ASW kits onboard. I mean, T31e with 250M GBP cost "cannot" have any ASW kits (may be other than small hull mounted sonar).

If you add ASW, the best will be 1/2 of T26 and I bet even more.

Also, what is more important is that, it is toooooo late, as you said.

benny14 wrote:If we cut the Type 26 order to 6, I am moving to France.

I will get a room ready for you then. It really is not that bad over here it has many of the same problems as the UK but the wine is better and cheaper and for most part so is the weather