When they enter service, the RAN’s six Hunter class frigates will be among the most powerful ships in their class by combining Australian and US combat system elements. The large, fixed face active electronically scanned radar arrays will come as Government Furnished Equipment from Canberra’s CEA, the Aegis combat system will be from Lockheed Martin Australia and Saab Systems will supply the locally developed 9LV tactical interface.
Asked for a summary of the major elements for the program, Defence replied: “The first Hunter Class frigate is expected to be delivered in 2032 and operational in 2034. Ships 2 and 3 will follow on a 2-year cycle with expected operational dates in 2036 and 2038 respectively.
“As part of the staged approval process for the project, Defence will return to the Australian Government later this decade to seek funding for ships 4-6. Construction has commenced on 29 of 78 blocks for the first ship. The Hunter Class frigate combat system is on track to start Combat System Testing on board the ship while it is under construction as planned in 2029. This is inclusive of the Aegis Combat Management System and the Saab Australian Interface, both of which will be progressively tested through the SEA 4000 Phase 6 project (Hobart Class Aegis Upgrade).
“The CEA Phased Array Radar system and its integration with Aegis continues on schedule, with testing occurring in both the United States and Australia. The Hunter Class frigate Combat System Land Based Test Site, located within the Navy’s Maritime Combat Systems Integration Centre in South Australia, continues to plan with a critical design review occurring this year and formal fit out commencing in 2026.”
This is an excerpt from APDR. To read the full article click here.
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