The Royal Australian Navy’s Future Frigate Programme has taken a symbolic leap forward with the keel laid on the force’s first warship.
Construction work on the future HMAS Hunter began in June 2024 and the vessel is expected to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in 2032 ahead of scheduled commissioning in 2034.
The keel-laying ceremony for the new warship took place yesterday (Monday) at BAE Systems Australia’s facility at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide, South Australia.
Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy and Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Matthew Buckley attended as a ceremonial coin was laid under two ship blocks which form part of the frigate’s keel.
Managing Director of BAE Systems Australia – Surface Ships David Shepherd commented: “Today’s ceremony is the culmination of years of hard work by our people and partners in the pursuit of delivering a world-leading, warship to the Royal Australian Navy.
“The Hunter class will form the backbone of the Royal Australian Navy’s fleet for decades to come, with its unique capabilities, weapons, sensors and modular mission bay enabling it to undertake a wide range of missions in addition to hunting submarines.”
Mr Conroy added: “The capabilities upon which we rely to protect Australia’s national security have evolved significantly.
“Today’s Navy is adapting to new, rapidly changing technologies and new complex and challenging environments, while continuing to uphold its enduring objective, to defend Australia and secure our maritime future.
“We have not been afraid to pivot and re-focus, through the Surface Fleet Review, and the National Defence Strategy.
“We recognised the core need to upgrade the surface fleet, and we are working to rapidly bring world-class capabilities into service.”
BAE Systems Maritime Australia won the contract to build the frigates at the Osborne Naval Shipyard, South Australia, as part of the nation’s Continuous Naval Shipbuilding programme.
The result of the Future Frigate Programme which started back in 2009, initially eight and then nine ships were planned at an estimated cost of A$35 billion. The contract was awarded to BAE Systems in 2018; this was revised to an order for six Hunter-class frigates in February 2024.
The six warships are being built out in two batches of three; the names of the next two frigates, the Flinders and the Tasman, have also been announced, but timelines for their completion have not yet been released.
The frigates are a sister design of the Royal Navy’s new Type 26 frigates. Contractor sea trials for the first-in-class Type 26, HMS Glasgow, are scheduled to begin between late 2026 and early 2027, with the ship reaching full operational capability in 2028.
- You can read more details about the keel-laying on the future HMAS Hunter on the BAE Systems website and on the Defence Australia website
