BAE Systems Maritime Australia has officially laid the keel for the Royal Australian Navy’s first Hunter-class frigate at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia, marking a major milestone for the nation’s future surface combatant fleet and anti-submarine warfare capability.
BAE Systems Maritime Australia has laid the keel for the first Hunter-class frigate at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia, marking a major milestone in the modernization of the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) surface fleet. Derived from the British Type 26 Global Combat Ship design, the lead vessel—set to enter service in the early 2030s—will form the backbone of Australia’s next-generation anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability while integrating advanced Australian-made CEAFAR radar technology and U.S. combat system elements.
The ceremony at the Osborne shipyard adhered to long-standing naval tradition, featuring the placement of a commemorative coin beneath the ship’s keel. This symbolic gesture is intended to bestow good fortune upon the vessel during both its construction phase and subsequent operational life at sea.
The Hunter-class program forms a cornerstone of the Australian Government’s continuous naval shipbuilding strategy, aimed at constructing a larger and more lethal surface force. Optimized for anti-submarine warfare (ASW)—a capability deemed critical for safeguarding Australia’s maritime approaches—the new frigates are designed to operate effectively in high-threat, multi-domain environments alongside allied and regional partner navies.
From an industrial standpoint, progress on the lead vessel is accelerating. According to defense officials, construction is already underway on 20 of the first ship’s 22 structural blocks. Delivery of the initial frigate to the Royal Australian Navy remains on schedule for the early 2030s.
The program represents a major industrial endeavor for South Australia’s defense manufacturing sector. Managed by BAE Systems Maritime Australia, shipbuilding operations at the Osborne facility currently support over 2,500 direct jobs, including nearly 600 skilled tradespeople. An additional 5,000 jobs across the broader national supply chain are supported by the build effort, reinforcing South Australia’s position as the primary hub for complex naval shipbuilding in the country.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles emphasized that the milestone represents tangible progress in bolstering national defense capabilities and enhancing maritime security. Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy highlighted the broader economic impact, noting that the program demonstrates Australia’s sovereign capacity to manage complex defense infrastructure projects while establishing a sustained pipeline for skilled manufacturing careers.
To deliver its primary mission set, the Hunter class will feature a formidable anti-submarine sensor suite centered around the Thales CAPTAS-4 (Sonar 2087) variable depth sonar system—which completed key factory acceptance testing late last year—combining active and passive low-frequency arrays for long-range undersea detection. This anti-submarine architecture will operate alongside sovereign active phased-array CEAFAR radar technology developed by CEA Technologies and the U.S. Navy’s Aegis Combat System via an Australian-specific interface, delivering a potent multi-mission surface combatant capable of anti-submarine warfare, air defense, and fleet escort duties.
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