The Hunter Class Frigate Program has reached a milestone with the laying of the keel of the first Hunter-class frigate, NUSHIP Hunter, Australian Defence Magazine reports.
“Today’s ceremony is the culmination of years of hard work by our people and partners in the pursuit of delivering a world-leading warship to the Royal Australian Navy,” Managing Director of BAE Systems Australia – Surface Ships, David Shepherd, said.
“The Hunter-class will form the backbone of the Royal Australian Navy’s fleet for decades to come, with its unique capabilities, weapons, sensors and modular mission bay enabling it to undertake a wide range of missions in addition to hunting submarines.”
The ceremonial event – a naval tradition dating back centuries and intended to invoke good luck and protection for the ship and its future crew – saw BAE Systems Australia’s shipbuilders joined by Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy, and Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Matthew Buckley, to lay a coin under two ship blocks which form part of the keel of the frigate.
“While today we have physically laid the keel of the first Hunter class frigate, the Hunter program itself has laid the foundations of a Continuous Naval Shipbuilding & Sustainment capability in Australia,” Shepherd said.
“This milestone is a proud moment for our workforce, our partners and the thousands of Australians contributing to a sovereign naval shipbuilding enterprise that will support Australia’s security and prosperity for generations.”
The two blocks are among the first major sections to form part of NUSHIP Hunter. They will soon be joined by other blocks to form the base of the ship, as construction on the anti-submarine warfare frigates continues.
The Commonwealth Government said “The Hunter class will provide Navy with an advanced anti-submarine warfare capability, one of the most important capabilities for Australia’s maritime security, and strengthen our ability to operate alongside allies and partners.”
The program is being delivered by BAE Systems Maritime Australia, directly supporting more than 2,500 jobs, with the majority of the workforce based in South Australia. An additional 5,000 Australian industry jobs are being supported through the supply chain for the build.
The Hunter class fleet will also integrate Australian-made CEA radar technology and advanced combat system elements from the United States.
Construction of 20 of the first ship’s 22 blocks is already underway, which will see the RAN receive the first Hunter class frigate in the early 2030s.
The Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. Richard Marles said,
“Today’s milestone is a vital step forward for the Australian workers building these ships, the men and women who will serve on them, and our nation’s future maritime security.
“The laying of the keel for the first Hunter class frigate demonstrates tangible progress in the delivery of a more capable, lethal and resilient surface combatant fleet for Australia. The Hunter class frigates will provide a world-class anti-submarine warfare capability, designed to operate in complex maritime environments.”
