Australian Defence Force

[Mercator]

https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/med ... tant-fleet

In line with independent analysis’ recommendations, Navy’s future surface combatant fleet will comprise:

26 major surface combatants consisting of:
Three Hobart class air warfare destroyers with upgraded air defence and strike capabilities
Six Hunter class frigates to boost Navy’s undersea warfare and strike capabilities
11 new general purpose frigates that will provide maritime and land strike, air defence and escort capabilities
Six new Large Optionally Crewed Surface Vessels (LOSVs) that will significantly increase Navy’s long-range strike capacity
Six remaining Anzac class frigates with the two oldest ships to be decommissioned as per their planned service life.

The Government has also accepted the independent analysis’ recommendations to have:

25 minor war vessels to contribute to civil maritime security operations, which includes six Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs).

The Hunter class frigates will be built at the Osborne shipyard in South Australia, and will be followed by the replacement of the Hobart class destroyer. The Hobart destroyers will be upgraded at Osborne with the latest US Navy Aegis combat system.

[tomuk]

Under the sweeping overhaul, Australia's current fleet of combat-ready warships would rise from 11 to 26, consisting of nine "Tier 1" frigates and destroyers and 11 smaller general-purpose frigates, as well as six optionally crewed vessels which will form a "Tier 2" force.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-20/ ... nt=twitter

So
Only Six Hunter
Only Six Arfuras
Two anzacs scrapped and no transcap upgrade on the remaining Six
Eleven Tier 2 ASW focussed light frigates self defense AAW only initially built overseas, Germany, Spain, Japan or Korea. Meko A200, Alfa3000, Mogami or Daegu. 3,000t
Six LOSV Arsenal Ships 2,000t nothing ship with 32 VLS 'unmanned' to follow the Hobarts and Hunters around.

[Mercator]

[Mercator]

The follow-on to the Hunter class (the DDG replacement) might be a Hunter class variant (like that 96 cell 'FFG' BAE was touting).

[inch]

UK RN should build some T26 / hunter class destroyer AAW with Australia to flush out the royal navy destroyer force to at least 8 ships, t45 / t26 hunter variant

[abc123]

Typical Australian naval circus.

[R686]

Under the sweeping overhaul, Australia's current fleet of combat-ready warships would rise from 11 to 26, consisting of nine "Tier 1" frigates and destroyers and 11 smaller general-purpose frigates, as well as six optionally crewed vessels which will form a "Tier 2" force.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-20/ ... nt=twitter

So they are going with something that actually does not exist yet from something does exist and being built and that was in the forward estimates. Isn’t that the exact same thing they accused the past government with?

Time will tell of Tier 2 capability the numbers are where the RAN should have been 20 years ago

Least they might do a bit of fast tracking to replace Anzac with overseas build but conveniently overlook the hunters were it’s replacement. They could have sped up the build rate for Hunter would most likely be faster then beginning a new competition for Tier 2 and all that entails

[tomuk]

UK RN should build some T26 / hunter class destroyer AAW with Australia to flush out the royal navy destroyer force to at least 8 ships, t45 / t26 hunter variant

No I don't believe that a T26\Huter platform has the right amount of power generation capacity needed.

[tomuk]

Under the sweeping overhaul, Australia's current fleet of combat-ready warships would rise from 11 to 26, consisting of nine "Tier 1" frigates and destroyers and 11 smaller general-purpose frigates, as well as six optionally crewed vessels which will form a "Tier 2" force.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-20/ ... nt=twitter

So they are going with something that actually does not exist yet from something does exist and being built and that was in the forward estimates. Isn’t that the exact same thing they accused the past government with?

Time will tell of Tier 2 capability the numbers are where the RAN should have been 20 years ago

Least they might do a bit of fast tracking to replace Anzac with overseas build but conveniently overlook the hunters were it’s replacement. They could have sped up the build rate for Hunter would most likely be faster then beginning a new competition for Tier 2 and all that entails

The LOSV thing is bonkers why not just buy the Tier 2 frigates with a larger VLS count or just buy more Hunter.

[Poiuytrewq]

The LOSV thing is bonkers why not just buy the Tier 2 frigates with a larger VLS count or just buy more Hunter.

Completely agree.

This stands out as a very strange recommendation.

What will 6x semi-autonomous arsenal ships with 32x Mk41 Strike cells actually cost?

If the Tasman class based on Navantia’s Alpha3000 design is chosen for the Corvette perhaps the obvious low risk solution is to order another 6x Alpha5000 Frigates in place of the unmanned arsenal ships.

https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/in ... ed-at-ran/

[R686]

Under the sweeping overhaul, Australia's current fleet of combat-ready warships would rise from 11 to 26, consisting of nine "Tier 1" frigates and destroyers and 11 smaller general-purpose frigates, as well as six optionally crewed vessels which will form a "Tier 2" force.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-20/ ... nt=twitter

So they are going with something that actually does not exist yet from something does exist and being built and that was in the forward estimates. Isn’t that the exact same thing they accused the past government with?

Time will tell of Tier 2 capability the numbers are where the RAN should have been 20 years ago

Least they might do a bit of fast tracking to replace Anzac with overseas build but conveniently overlook the hunters were it’s replacement. They could have sped up the build rate for Hunter would most likely be faster then beginning a new competition for Tier 2 and all that entails

The LOSV thing is bonkers why not just buy the Tier 2 frigates with a larger VLS count or just buy more Hunter.

Whilst I can grasp the concept behind the unmanned vessels, it goes to the subject of the recruitment crisis within the ADF at the moment, but’s it’s la la land thinking. The tier 2 vesselsdo make sence in the long run.

If I was king for a day and could set it in stone.

• accelerate the hunter build for all nine
• go to South Korea on KDX-III batch II, they build 6 we build 3 ( precedent has been set in the past with the Adelaide Class build)
• give the Hobarts to the kiwis ( they pay for upgrades) kiwis pay off current Anzacs and mixed crewed until the batch two KDX III arrive
• continue with planning for tier 2 force
• build Nuc subs in UK( maintenance hub only in Australia )

• recruitment drive give a 25% pay increase 0% home loans after 10years of service that’s just the start.

[Mercator]

Henderson-based Austal to build two more Evolved Cape-Class Patrol Boats for Navy
https://psnews.com.au/henderson-based-a ... vy/128416/

One of the key elements of the government’s new plan is to grow its fleet of patrol vessels to 25 to conduct border security and constabulary missions around Australia’s vast maritime territory.

Although it reduced the planned number of Arafura-class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) – also being built at Henderson by Luerssen and Civmec – it has undertaken to grow the fleet with additional smaller vessels.

This new $157 million order under Project SEA 1445 Phase 1 takes the total number of ECCPBs for the Navy or Border Force to 10.

The ECCPB is an evolution of the Cape-class patrol boat, 12 of which were built for the Navy and Border Force, while the Cape class was itself an advanced development of the Navy’s Armidale-class boats, 14 of which were built in the early 2000s, and all but four of which have now been decommissioned.

Project SEA1445 Phase 1 initially saw six ECCPBs ordered in May 2020 and has since had two additional orders, each for two more vessels. Six boats have been delivered, and two are currently being built.

The ECCPB has a complement of up to 32, and features improved quality-of-life systems and advanced sustainment intelligence systems over the earlier vessels.

https://www.austal.com/ships/cape-class ... -patrol-58

[Mercator]

Tully, North Queensland. Annual rainfall over 4000 mm.

[R686]

Henderson-based Austal to build two more Evolved Cape-Class Patrol Boats for Navy
https://psnews.com.au/henderson-based-a ... vy/128416/

One of the key elements of the government’s new plan is to grow its fleet of patrol vessels to 25 to conduct border security and constabulary missions around Australia’s vast maritime territory.

Although it reduced the planned number of Arafura-class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) – also being built at Henderson by Luerssen and Civmec – it has undertaken to grow the fleet with additional smaller vessels.

This new $157 million order under Project SEA 1445 Phase 1 takes the total number of ECCPBs for the Navy or Border Force to 10.

The ECCPB is an evolution of the Cape-class patrol boat, 12 of which were built for the Navy and Border Force, while the Cape class was itself an advanced development of the Navy’s Armidale-class boats, 14 of which were built in the early 2000s, and all but four of which have now been decommissioned.

Project SEA1445 Phase 1 initially saw six ECCPBs ordered in May 2020 and has since had two additional orders, each for two more vessels. Six boats have been delivered, and two are currently being built.

The ECCPB has a complement of up to 32, and features improved quality-of-life systems and advanced sustainment intelligence systems over the earlier vessels.

https://www.austal.com/ships/cape-class ... -patrol-58

Good grief ALPhave no effing idea

ABF yes Navy hell no

[Mercator]

A few of these in the ORBAT now, all civilian crew.

[Mercator]

HMAS Choules fitted with CEAFAR radar
https://www.australiandefence.com.au/ne ... afar-radar

While Choules’ current armament of a single Phalanx Close-In Weapons Systems (CIWS) is able to engage targets independently using its own integrated radar, that radar has limited range and coverage. The new CEAFAR radar, in comparison, provides 360-degree coverage around the ship at extended ranges.

The government owns the company now. Might as well go nuts.

[Mercator]

https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/all- ... ng-mission

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) celebrated International Women’s Day by deploying an all-female team to undertake an air-to-air refueling mission at the RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland, Australia.

80 female members of the Australian Defence Force were involved in the exercise, which comprised refuelling activities and crew-attendant training alongside 1 Squadron F/A-18F Super Hornets.

According to the Australian Defence, 27% of its Air Force aviators are female. The flight in question, which took place on March 7, 2024, was organized by 33 Squadron engineering officer Flight Lieutenant Rebecca Walmsley.

I didn't realise we had come quite that far. A lot of that 27% will be crew attendants (hosties) and back enders for E-7 & P-8, so not exactly what people would initially imagine when they hear that statistic, but still it's very impressive, I think.

[Mercator]

[Mercator]

[Mercator]

[Mercator]

some good insights here:
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... conundrum/

Some subtleties around the Japanese frigate that I had not heard before. On the surface, you would think the Spanish have a good shot at it. I've said that before, however...

[Mercator]

[Mercator]

https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/joint ... y-vehicles

[Mercator]

[Mercator]

2024 Integrated Investment Program
https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/med ... nt-program

These investments include an additional $11.1 billion over the next decade to deliver the Government’s response to the independent analysis of Navy’s surface combatant fleet, and an additional $1 billion over the next four years to support targeting, long-range fires, theatre logistics, fuel resilience and robotic and autonomous systems.

As a result of this increased commitment, Defence funding as a proportion of Gross Domestic Product is projected to rise to around 2.4 per cent by 2033-34 – up to 0.3 per cent higher than the spending trajectory set by the former government.

2024 National Defence Strategy
https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/med ... e-strategy

The National Defence Strategy sees a Strategy of Denial become the cornerstone of Defence planning. This approach guides Defence’s contribution to National Defence and spans all domains – maritime, land, air, space and cyber.

The adoption of National Defence also means the ADF will shift to an integrated, focused force designed to address Australia’s most significant strategic risks. This will ensure the ADF has the capacity to:

defend Australia and our immediate region;
deter through denial any potential adversary’s attempt to project power against Australia through our northern approaches;
protect Australia’s economic connection to the region and the world;
contribute with our partners to the collective security of the Indo-Pacific; and
contribute with our partners to the maintenance of the global rules-based order.

the documents:
https://www.defence.gov.au/about/strate ... nt-program