{"id":32834,"date":"2018-06-29T14:11:35","date_gmt":"2018-06-29T14:11:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/06\/29\/australia-officially-announces-26b-frigate-contract-here-are-the-build-details\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:44:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:44:21","slug":"australia-officially-announces-26b-frigate-contract-here-are-the-build-details","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/naval\/2018\/06\/29\/australia-officially-announces-26b-frigate-contract-here-are-the-build-details\/","title":{"rendered":"Australia officially announces $26B frigate contract. Here are the build details"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

MELBOURNE, Australia \u2015 Australia will acquire<\/a> nine high-end anti-submarine warfare frigates from the end of the next decade under a deal with BAE Systems worth AU$35 billion (U.S. $26 billion).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The announcement was formally made Friday at the ASC shipyard in Osborne, South Australia, by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Minister for Defence Marise Payne and Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A version of BAE Systems\u2019 City-class Type 26 ASW frigate, now under construction for the British Royal Navy, will be acquired under Australia\u2019s SEA 5000 Phase 1 project, also known as the Future Frigate Project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Referred to as the Global Combat Ship\u2015Australia, or GCS-A, during the competition, the design will be known as the Hunter-class in Royal Australian Navy service and will replace the Navy\u2019s existing Anzac-class frigates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There has been speculation in the media that the decision to go with BAE may be driven, in part, by Australia\u2019s desire to secure strong terms with the U.K. as it negotiates a series of new trade agreements after Britain leaves the European Union<\/a>.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Payne noted Friday that the GCS-A design was selected because it was the most capable ASW platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a decision entirely based on capability, the best capability to equip the Navy in anti-submarine warfare,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless, news of BAE\u2019s win was welcomed in the United Kingdom, with Secretary of State for Defence Gavin Williamson referring to it as the \u201cbiggest maritime defence deal of the decade.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis \u00a320 billion \u2018deal of the decade\u2019 demonstrates how British defence plays a huge role in creating jobs and prosperity and is \u2018Global Britain\u2019 in action,\u201d he commented on social media. \u201cGreat to see our military and industrial links strengthen with Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ships will be built by ASC Shipbuilding in South Australia, using local workers and Australian steel, under the Turnbull government\u2019s continuous naval shipbuilding program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat we are doing here is announcing our commitment to build the nine Future Frigates,\u201d Prime Minister Turnbull said. \u201cThe Hunter-class frigates will be the most advanced anti-submarine warships in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Postcards featuring the World War II British slogan “Keep Calm and Carry On” are seen outside a newsagents in London, on 24 June, 2016. (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL\/AFP\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Hunter-class frigates will be equipped with CEA Technologies-built CEAFAR phased array radar currently fitted to the Navy\u2019s post-anti-ship missile defense Anzac frigates, together with Lockheed Martin\u2019s Aegis combat system and an interface provided by Saab Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Aegis combat system was mandated for all of Australia\u2019s major surface combatants by the Turnbull government in October 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\t