The navy would receive a major firepower boost through the addition of three heavily armed air warfare destroyers under a plan being considered by the federal government, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Sources briefed on the findings of a review of the navy’s surface fleet, which was delivered to Defence Minister Richard Marles last week, said it had recommended slashing the planned number of Hunter-class frigates from nine to six, as current shipbuilding projects face cost overruns of up to $20 billion.
