Procurement programme of the Royal Australian Navy

The Royal Australian Navy, although a significant force in the Asia-Pacific region, is nonetheless classed as a medium-sized navy. Its fleet is based around two main types of surface combatant, with limited global deployment and air power capability. However, in 2009, a white paper, Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030, was produced by the Australian government which set out a programme of defence spending that will see significant improvements to the RAN's fleet and capabilities.

The RAN currently has two main classes of surface combatant:

The Adelaide class first entered service in the early 1980s, with a total of six units eventually being constructed. The first four were constructed in the United States as part of the US Navy's run of Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates in the late 1970s and early 1980s; the remaining two were built in the late 1980s in Australia. However, the later two units were constructed with largely the same technology as the previous four. As a consequence, in the mid 1990s it became necessary to think about upgrading the class as a whole. The "FFG Upgrade Project" (FFGUP) was initiated in 1994 with a view to installing improved armaments and equipment, with the most obvious addition being an 8-cell Mk 41 VLS, similar to those fitted to the Anzac class. This will enable the ships to fire the Evolved Sea Sparrow, in addition to their existing Harpoon and Standard 2 missile capability provided by the Mark 13 missile launcher system. The culmination of this project will see four ships upgraded; the two oldest units (HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Canberra) were decommissioned. The Australian newspaper has stated that the last two ships, Newcastle and Melbourne, may be kept in service past the end of their expected decommissionings in 2019 and 2021.

The Anzac class is the latest major fleet type to enter service. The first unit was commissioned in 1996 and the last entered service in 2006. These vessels are more optimized for general warfare – as part of the continuing upgrading of these vessels, their anti-surface and undersea protection will be enhanced through the addition of the Harpoon, and a towed mine and obstacle avoidance sonar. In the mid 2020s, the Anzacs will be replaced by a class of nine Future Frigates displacing 7,000 tons. These ships will be equipped with cruise missiles and anti ballistic missiles like the SM3, but will be primarily focused towards ASW. The ships will have the ability to carry helicopters, UAVs and have long range sonar as well as a towed sonar array all according to the 2009 Defence White Paper.

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Wikipedia