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Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles and Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Minister Pat Conroy have formally announced the two preferred shipbuilders, slated to deliver Australia’s $10 billion fleet of general purpose frigates.
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Defence Connect can confirm the down-selection of the government’s two preferred shipbuilders, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), to progress designs for Australia’s future general purpose frigates.
As part of the next stage, Defence will now work with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, and Australian industry partners to further develop the proposals for the Mogami and MEKO A-200 frigates.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles said: “Navy’s future fleet will constitute the largest number of surface combatants since World War II and will be integral to ensuring the safety and security of our sea lines of communication and maritime trade.”
The government acknowledges the high-quality proposals put forward by each of the five exemplary shipbuilders. The proposals reflect the sophistication and maturity of the companies involved and the defence industries of Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Spain.
“We extend our gratitude to Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Spain for their efforts in support of this activity. We view their commitment to this process as a reflection of the strong relationships between our nations,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
The Albanese government is investing up to $55 billion over the decade, including up to $10 billion for the general purpose frigates, as part of a plan that will more than double the size of the Navy’s surface combatant fleet compared to the plans announced as part of the 2020 Defence Strategic Update and 2020 Force Structure Plan.
Initially proposed as part of the findings of the government’s Independent Analysis of Navy’s Surface Combatant Fleet, the general purpose frigates will fulfil the “Tier Two” surface combatant role, providing the Royal Australian Navy with a significant boost to the number of hulls it has in the water, easing the burden on the “Tier One” surface combatants, like the Hobart and future Hunter Class vessels.
Recognising this, the Surface Combatant Review stated the government’s plans to acquire “at least seven, and optimally 11, Tier 2 ships, optimised for undersea warfare, to operate both independently and in conjunction with the Tier 1 ships to secure maritime trade routes, northern approaches and escort military assets. Consistent with the DSR and our terms of reference.”
The proposed fleet of new general purpose frigates will replace the Anzac Class frigates and will be equipped for undersea warfare and local air defence in order to secure maritime trade routes and the nation’s northern approaches.
As part of a wide-reaching mission set, the government has required that the successful “Tier Two” design will have the capacity to:
- Operate an MH-60R Romeo Maritime Combat Helicopter.
- Provide undersea warfare through a depressed active/passive towed array.
- Sonar and have the ability to store, handle and employ lightweight torpedoes.
- Provide air defence through a limited number of point and self-defence systems.
- Provide maritime and land strike.
- Provide force protection.
Additionally, the government’s plan stated that the “Tier 2 acquisition timelines were adapted to address the deteriorating material state of the Anzac Class frigates and to reduce the risk of a potential capability gap”.
As part of an accelerated delivery timeline, the first three general purpose frigates will be built offshore, and successful and timely consolidation of the Henderson Precinct will enable the remainder of the build to be constructed locally at Henderson.
Following this, the construction of general purpose frigates at the Henderson Defence Precinct is part of the Albanese government’s plan to invest tens of billions of dollars in defence capabilities in Western Australia over the next two decades, supporting in the order of 10,000 well-paid, high-skilled local jobs.
Minister Conroy said: “The rapid, accelerated work of the general purpose frigate program to date underpins the next stages of the acquisition to ensure this capability is delivered this decade, providing our Navy with enhanced anti-submarine and anti-air warfare capabilities.”
Defence will engage closely with the down-selected shipbuilders to progress this program and ensure Australia’s first general purpose frigate is delivered this decade. The decision to progress the Mogami and MEKO A-200 designs was informed by a rigorous evaluation by Defence that identified these designs as likely to best meet Australia’s capability requirements.
More to come.
