The keel laying for Australia's first Hunter class frigate was carried out at South Australia’s Osborne Naval Shipyard.
Honouring a centuries-old naval tradition, the keel laying sees a coin placed beneath the keel of the ship to bestow good fortune on the vessel during its construction and throughout its life at sea.
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 Australian Government said.
This program, being delivered by BAE Systems Maritime Australia, is 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 radar technology and advanced combat system elements from the United States.
''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,'' Australia's Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles, said.
''The Hunter class frigates will provide a world-class anti-submarine warfare capability, designed to operate in complex maritime environments.''
Construction of 20 of the first ship’s 22 blocks is already underway, which will see the Royal Australian Navy receive the first Hunter class frigate in the early 2030s.
Australia's Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy, said: ''This Hunter class frigate program is already supporting thousands of high-skilled and well-paid jobs. So, this is a landmark moment that demonstrates Australia already has the skilled workforce needed to undertake complex projects like this. The Hunter class frigate program is a critical part of the Albanese Government’s plan for giving the Navy the capabilities it needs to help keep Australia safe. It’s also about supporting continuous naval shipbuilding and contributing a secure future made in Australia. Through the construction of the Hunter frigates, we are strengthening South Australia’s role as a national centre for complex naval shipbuilding and supporting skilled Australian jobs across the broader national supply chain.''
The nine-vessel Hunter‑class frigate program was initiated to provide the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) with a modern, high‑end anti‑submarine and multi‑mission surface combatants, replacing older Anzac‑class frigates. The vessels will have an 8,800-ton full load displacement and will be approximately 150 meters long.
The design is based on the UK’s Type 26 Global Combat Ship, but heavily modified to meet Australian operational requirements, including integration of the US Navy’s Aegis combat system with a local interface from Saab Australia, the Australian‑designed CEAFAR2 phased‑array radar, tailored communications and sensors, and the ability to operate the MH‑60R Seahawk Romeo maritime helicopter.