What will the Australian Navy’s fleet of naval vessels look like?
Not just nuclear-powered attack submarines for the Australian Navy, Canberra will also renew the composition of the surface fleet
By now it seems like a sort of "tradition"; that is, periodically, Australia tends to reserve big surprises for us about the development plans of its Navy, better known as the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). What we could in fact define as the first episode of this particular trend dates back to September 15, 2021; that day, Australia, the United States of America and the United Kingdom announced a defense pact which immediately became famous with its acronym Aukus.
There are many issues touched by this same pact but the most important of all is Canberra's choice to equip itself with nuclear-powered attack submarines. A truly important decision, made even stronger by the fact that, at the same time, it is forced to drastically cancel the purchase program for other attack submarines (this time with conventional propulsion); those of the Attack class chosen just a few years earlier (more precisely, in 2016) on the basis of the Shortfin Barracuda project of the French Naval Group .
AFTER THE SUBMARINES, IT'S THE TURN OF THE SURFACE FLEET
As in the case of the Aukus pact and its implications on the underwater boats front, it should be noted that some elements of what was looming had actually emerged in the weeks preceding the announcements in question; thus decreasing the actual surprise effect. Indeed, in the case of what was announced by the Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles on 20 February, we had already known for some time that something was destined to change; since in April 2023, the new government in Canberra had published its own "Strategic Defense Review" (SDR) , which recommended both an enhancement and a change in the composition of the RAN surface fleet .
Those initial indications were then followed by a further study phase conducted by an independent team, which effectively confirmed the main points. The overall deterioration of the Pacific security framework requires the RAN to increase the size of its fleet, increase its overall operational capabilities and modify its composition to make it more suitable for new challenges. In particular, the need to build new relatively small units, effectively "light" frigates, was anticipated.
Despite these advances, the surprise linked to Minister Marles' announcement was nevertheless notable, because there is no doubt that the "Enhanced Lethality Surface Combatant Fleet" (this is the official name of the final conclusions of all the studies conducted) present really many points of interest.
TWO CATEGORIES OF COMBAT SHIPS ARE CREATED
First of all, it introduces the concept of units defined as “Tier 1” and “Tier 2”. The former are and will be the largest units with operational capabilities (i.e. platforms with strong multi-role characteristics); while the latter will be a "step" below but always useful for increasing the potential of the RAN. The first category therefore includes the 3 Hobart class destroyers already in service and which will also receive a series of targeted updates.
To these will then be added the 6 future Hunter class frigates (derived from the British Type 26 project) for what is, in fact, the first important news, given that the original program envisaged the construction of 9 units. A truly complicated program, which soon began to accumulate delays, cost increases and technical difficulties; to the point of being heavily questioned to the point of hypothesizing an even more drastic cut in the number of units to be built. The one in question is therefore a compromise choice, however useful for starting the most important part of this process of updating the RAN itself.
That is, the appearance of the "Tier 2" platforms, in which Australia is aiming for the introduction into service of 11 new light frigates (even if a minimum threshold of 7 units to be built in any case is then set), equipped with a marked capacity ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) but still capable of carrying out other types of missions. In the meantime, Canberra has already carried out an initial selection, reducing the platforms to 4 from which the one to be introduced into service will then be chosen.
These are the Japanese Mogami frigate, the German MEKO A-200, the South Korean Daegu (in the version defined as “Batch II” or in the “Batch III) and, finally, the Spanish ALFA 3000 project. A very important detail, for ensure a rapid implementation of the program, the first 3 units will be built directly in the chosen country; at the same time, we will proceed with the necessary technology transfer to then start the construction of the remaining frigates in Australia.
The other big news is represented by the choice to increase the consistency of the future "Tier 2" component through the purchase of 6 "Large Optionally Crewed Surface Vessels" (LOSV). A very technologically advanced choice, therefore, which will hinge on collaboration with the United States which in turn is developing similar units with the "Large Humaned Surface Vessel" (LUSV) program. Therefore, platforms substantially without a crew or in any case with one not permanently on board and which will have the purpose of accompanying the traditional units or operating autonomously, acting above all as an "added warehouse" for missiles (anti-aircraft, anti-ship and for the attack to the ground). However, these units will also be built in Australia.
Finally, the interventions carried out on the smaller units line are also worth mentioning. The Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) of the Arafura class currently under construction will also be cut from 12 to 6, to therefore be supported in the simplest tasks/missions by a total of 19 patrol units of the "Evolved Cape" class ( 8 will be in service with the RAN itself and the remaining 11 with the Australian Border Force or ABF).
CHOICES AS COURAGEOUS AS THEY ARE FULL OF RISKS
Therefore, if the "revolution" is notable, to the point of saying that (upon its completion) the fleet in question will be the most "powerful" fleet for Canberra since the end of the Second World War, one cannot even hide the various questions it raises .
First of all, of a financial nature; because if on the one hand it is true that there will be savings resulting from the cancellation of 3 Hunter class frigates and 6 Arafura class OPVs, on the other hand the objective of putting 7/11 new frigates and 6 LOSVs into service is still ambitious; as well as financially significant. In this sense, the Australian government has promised further allocations, also to strengthen the country's shipbuilding industry.
But even so, the doubts are certainly not dispelled; also because Australia in recent years has been characterized by erratic choices and excessive complication on the procurement front. And what happened to the Hunter frigate program demonstrates this perfectly. Although, it must be recognized, the premises underlying this strengthening process seem to have incorporated the lessons of the recent past.
Lastly, the issue of personnel; even Canberra (as well as many other "Western bloc" countries) is in fact faced with growing difficulties in terms of recruitment. And the further commitment linked to the strengthening of the fleet (including underwater, with the already mentioned arrival of nuclear-powered submarines), will inevitably put this aspect under even greater stress. To the point of making it, in all likelihood, a determining factor in the choice of future "Tier 2" frigates; and this to the extent that Australia could focus precisely on those units equipped with a high level of automation, in order to contain the needs as crewmen.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/smartcity/come-sara-la-flotta-di-navi-militari-della-marina-australiana/ on Thu, 22 Feb 2024 09:23:04 +0000.