Liferaft Systems comes onboard Australia’s Hunter-class frigate program

September 17, 2025, by Fatima Bahtić

Hobart-based Liferaft Systems Australia (LSA) has been selected to supply marine evacuation systems (MES) for the Hunter-class frigate program under a contract with BAE Systems Australia.

The contract will see each of the Royal Australian Navy’s first three Hunter-class anti-submarine warfare ships fitted with four MES. Each MES is capable of holding 115 people once deployed, with delivery of the MES scheduled between 2026 and 2031.

The Tasmanian-based company is already supplying MES for the Royal Navy’s eight Type 26 frigates in the UK, enabling the Hunter-class frigate program to use existing testing reports to ensure consistent performance and achieve time and cost savings across the program.

LSA is one of over 60 Tasmanian organisations pursuing opportunities in the defense industry, with this contract adding to the more than $500 million in defense contracts awarded to Tasmanian companies in the past five years.

“We welcome Liferaft Systems Australia to the Hunter program and look forward to working closely with its local and highly experienced team. Through the Hunter program, we are maximising opportunities for Australian industry to contribute to the defence supply chain, ensuring our nation has an enduring continuous naval shipbuilding capability,” Paul Berryman, Acting Managing Director of BAE Systems Maritime Australia, said.

“BAE Systems and LSA have forged a strong connection allowing LSA to supply an internationally approved Marine Evacuation System which is completely designed and manufactured in Tasmania’s capital city of Hobart, employing locals and supporting the local community,” Mike Grainger, Managing Director of Liferaft Systems Australia, stated.

The Hunter-class frigates are a class of advanced warships being built for the Royal Australian Navy to replace the aging Anzac-class frigates. The ships will have an 8,800-tonne full load displacement and will be approximately 150 meters long.

They will be equipped with advanced anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability, a 24-cell strike length Mk 41 VLS for long-range strike weapons such as the Tomahawk, a vertical launch silo (VLS) for Sea Ceptor anti-air missiles, a 5-inch gun, and will be capable of landing a Chinook helicopter on its flight deck.

Last year, the steel was cut at Osbourne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide for the Royal Australian Navy’s first Hunter-class frigate. The deliveries are scheduled for the 2030s.