Re: DSR - Hunter-class programme under threat?
New Albanese Labor government took office last June, their 110-page Defence Structure Review published and is scathing of the ADF’s current acquisition processes, declaring them not fit for purpose, was based on was based on a balanced force model capable of performing multiple different mission and the “Defence of Australia” doctrine and budget was over-programed by 24 percent for acquisitions, now a new strategy of denial for the ADF is key in our ability to deny an adversary freedom of action to militarily coerce Australia and to operate against Australia without being held at risk, including nuclear-powered submarines, long-range strike capabilities, and strengthening the country’s northern bases.
First outcome the Australian Army new IFV cut from 450 to 129 and any more SPH cancelled in favour of HIMARS and acquisition of medium and heavy landing craft and accelerated. The services plan to procure land-based anti-ship missiles, either the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) or LRASM, will be sped up plus acquisition of the PrSM Inc 2 with its seeker that can strike moving targets at sea.
The RAAF priority to acquire the Joint Strike Missile (JSM) for its F-35A fleet, necessitating a fleet-wide upgrade to Block IV standard. This will also facilitate the integration of the LRASM aboard the F-35A. Australia is currently procuring LRASM for its fleet of F/A-18F Super Hornets.
There will now be an additional independent short follow-on study of the RAN surface combatant fleet, reporting in the third quarter, to ensure its size, structure and composition complement the capabilities provided by the new nuclear submarines. Naval News reporting it hints at a global trend towards a larger number of smaller ships and a shift away from surface fleet ASW to the more capable SSNs provided by AUKUS
That would appear to potentially impact the proposed fleet of nine Hunter-class anti-submarine warfare frigates, regarded as providing limited capabilities with just 32 vertical launch missile cells against 48 on each of the three Hobart-class air warfare destroyers.
From <
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... ler-ships/>