HMAS Hunter

	Type 26 frigate
History
Australia
Name	Hunter
Namesake	John Hunter
Ordered	21 June 2024
Builder	BAE Systems Australia, Osborne
Cost	AU$3.9 billion
Commissioned	Projected 2031
In service	Projected 2034
Identification	Pennant number:
Status	Under construction
General characteristics
Type	Hunter-class frigate/destroyer
Displacement	8,800 t (8,700 long tons; 9,700 short tons) full load displacement
Length	151.4 m (497 ft)
Beam	21.4 m (70 ft)
Propulsion	CODLOG configuration; 1 × Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine; 4 × MTU Type 20V 4000 M53B high-speed diesel generators; 2 × electric motors;
Speed	27 knots
Range	7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) in electric motor drive
Complement	180 personnel, with accommodation for 208
Sensors and ; processing systems	Command & Control:; Aegis combat system; Saab 9LV tactical interface; Surveillance & Weapon Sensors:; CEA Technologies CEAFAR2 phased array radar; CEAFAR-L L-band long range surveillance radar ; CEAFAR-S S-band multi-function radar; CEAMOUNT fire control illuminator; Underwater Warfare Systems; Ultra S2150 hull-mounted sonar; Thales Sonar 2087 towed array and variable depth sonar;
Electronic warfare ; & decoys	Nulka decoy launchers
Armament	Missiles:; 2 x 4-canister advanced anti-ship missiles; 32 Mark 41 Vertical Launch System firing:; RIM-66 Standard 2; RIM-162 ESSM; BGM-109 Tomahawk; Torpedoes:; MU90 Impact torpedoes; Guns:; 1 × 5-inch 54 calibre Mark 45 Mod 4 dual purpose gun (127 mm); 2 × 30mm short-range gun systems; 2 × 20mm Phalanx CIWS;
Aircraft carried	1 × MH-60R ‘Romeo’ Seahawk armed with:; 2 × Mk 54 MAKO Torpedo; 4 × AGM-114 Hellfire;
Aviation facilities	Large Chinook capable flight deck; Enclosed hangar; Facilities for UAVs;
Notes	Flexible Mission Bay:; Rolls-Royce Mission Bay Handling System; 2nd helicopter (MH-60R); 4 x 11m RHIB; 10 x 20 foot containers; UAVs and UUVs;

HMAS Hunter (FFG) is the lead ship of the Hunter-class frigate/destroyer of the Royal Australian Navy.

Development and design

The Hunter-class frigate is a future class of frigates/destroyers for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), partly to replace the Anzac-class and as a supplement to Hobart-class destroyers. Construction is expected to begin in 2020, with the first of nine vessels to enter service in the late 2020s.^[7] The Program is expected to cost AU$35 billion and a request for tender was released in March 2017 to three contenders: Navantia, Fincantieri, and BAE Systems as part of a competitive evaluation process.^[8]

The Hunter-class frigate will be an Australian variation of the Type 26 class frigate that is to be operated by the Royal Navy from the mid-2020s. The class will have a 8,800-tonne (8,700-long-ton; 9,700-short-ton) full load displacement and will be approximately 150 metres (490 ft) in length. The vessel will be capable of sailing in excess of 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph) and will have a full complement of 180 crew.^[9]^[3]

Construction and career

Hunter was ordered on 30 June 2018 and named after Vice Admiral John Hunter. She will be built by BAE Systems Australia in Osborne.^[10] First steel was cut on prototype blocks in December 2021.^[11] The first steel that will actually be used in Hunter was cut in June 2024.^[12] The ship had been expected to be commissioned in 2031^[13] but is only projected to be operational in 2034.^[14]

References

^ "Australia's Hunter-class frigates are coming, but maybe not soon enough". The Strategist. 2020-11-26. Archived from the original on 2020-11-26. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
^ "Australia Cuts Steel On Its First Hunter-Class Frigate". Naval News. 21 June 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Hunter Class FFG". Royal Australian Navy. n.d. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
^ "Joint Media Release - Prime Minister, Minister for Defence and Minister for Defence Industry - New Approach to Naval Combat Systems". Department of Defence. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
^ Kerr, Julian (17 May 2017). "Anti-submarine future frigates to be armed with SM-2 missiles to blunt far-distant attacks". The Australian. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
^ Kerr, Julian (5 March 2019). "The Type 26 frigate mission bay. Part 2 – configuration and contents". Save the Royal Navy. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
^ 2016 Defence White Paper (PDF). p. 93. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-04-03. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
^ Pyne, Christopher (2017-03-31). "$35 billion Future Frigate Tender". www.minister.defence.gov.au. Archived from the original on 2017-04-03. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
^ Wroe, David (28 June 2018). "British frigate program to seed Australia's own warship industry, Turnbull says". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 2018-06-28. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
^ Kuper, Stephen (2018-06-28). "Here comes the Hunter: BAE awarded $35bn SEA 5000 Future Frigate contract". www.defenceconnect.com.au. Archived from the original on 2020-11-09. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
^ Roberts, Peter (August 28, 2022). "First Hunter frigate block emerges after 45,000 work hours". AuManafacturing. Archived from the original on December 27, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
^ Staff, Naval News (2024-06-21). "Australia Cuts Steel on its First Hunter-class Frigate". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
^ "Australia's Hunter-class frigates are coming, but maybe not soon enough". The Strategist. 2020-11-26. Archived from the original on 2020-11-26. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
^ "Australia Cuts Steel On Its First Hunter-Class Frigate". Naval News. 21 June 2024.

[1] "Australia's Hunter-class frigates are coming, but maybe not soon enough". The Strategist. 2020-11-26. Archived from the original on 2020-11-26. Retrieved 2020-12-10.

[2] "Australia Cuts Steel On Its First Hunter-Class Frigate". Naval News. 21 June 2024.

[:9-3] "Hunter Class FFG". Royal Australian Navy. n.d. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2018.

[4] "Joint Media Release - Prime Minister, Minister for Defence and Minister for Defence Industry - New Approach to Naval Combat Systems". Department of Defence. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2017.

[:5-5] Kerr, Julian (17 May 2017). "Anti-submarine future frigates to be armed with SM-2 missiles to blunt far-distant attacks". The Australian. Retrieved 2017-06-06.

[:6-6] Kerr, Julian (5 March 2019). "The Type 26 frigate mission bay. Part 2 – configuration and contents". Save the Royal Navy. Retrieved 2018-06-01.

[7] 2016 Defence White Paper (PDF). p. 93. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-04-03. Retrieved 2020-12-10.

[8] Pyne, Christopher (2017-03-31). "$35 billion Future Frigate Tender". www.minister.defence.gov.au. Archived from the original on 2017-04-03. Retrieved 2017-06-06.

[:8-9] Wroe, David (28 June 2018). "British frigate program to seed Australia's own warship industry, Turnbull says". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 2018-06-28. Retrieved 2018-06-28.

[10] Kuper, Stephen (2018-06-28). "Here comes the Hunter: BAE awarded $35bn SEA 5000 Future Frigate contract". www.defenceconnect.com.au. Archived from the original on 2020-11-09. Retrieved 2020-12-10.

[11] Roberts, Peter (August 28, 2022). "First Hunter frigate block emerges after 45,000 work hours". AuManafacturing. Archived from the original on December 27, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2022.

[12] Staff, Naval News (2024-06-21). "Australia Cuts Steel on its First Hunter-class Frigate". Naval News. Retrieved 2024-07-04.

[13] "Australia's Hunter-class frigates are coming, but maybe not soon enough". The Strategist. 2020-11-26. Archived from the original on 2020-11-26. Retrieved 2020-12-10.

[14] "Australia Cuts Steel On Its First Hunter-Class Frigate". Naval News. 21 June 2024.

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