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Large Optionally Crewed Surface Vessels (LSOV)

On 20 February 2024, the Albanese Government released its blueprint for a larger and more lethal surface combatant fleet for the Royal Australian Navy, more than doubling the size of the surface combatant fleet under the former government’s plan. This follows the Government’s careful consideration of the recommendations of the independent analysis of the surface combatant fleet, commissioned in response to the Defence Strategic Review. Australia's strategic circumstances require a larger and more lethal surface combatant fleet, complemented by a conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine fleet.

The independent analysis of Navy’s surface combatant fleet lamented the current surface combatant fleet was the oldest fleet Navy has operated in its history, and emphasised the need for immediate action to boost Navy’s air defence, long-range strike, presence and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

Navy’s future surface combatant fleet will include six new Large Optionally Crewed Surface Vessels (LOSVs) that will significantly increase Navy’s long-range strike capacity. Consolidation of the Henderson precinct is currently underway, as recommended by the Defence Strategic Review. Successful and timely consolidation will enable eight new general purpose frigates to be built at the Henderson precinct, and will also enable a pathway to build six new Large Optionally Crewed Surface Vessels in Western Australia.

"Optionally crewed" refers to vessels that can operate with or without a crew, designed for flexibility in various missions. These vessels can perform tasks remotely or with personnel on board, depending on the operation's needs, enhancing safety and endurance capabilities. the LOSV would be armed with 32 vertical launch silos (presumably the Mk41 VLS) and equipped with the Aegis Baseline 9 Combat system.

Gregor Ferguson posed a number of questions, such as: Will it be related to Austal’s optionally crewed patrol boat Sentinel? If so, how? Will we end up building a version of the US Navy’s Large Unmanned Surface Vessel (LUSV) and re-brand it as the LOSV?

Austal welcomed "the findings of the Surface Fleet Review and the Australian Government ’s response to it. ... Austal, and our expert shipbuilding workforce stand ready to build the Tier Two vessels, such as the General Purpose Frigates and Optionally Crewed Vessels, required by the SFR, and will work closely with the Australian Government and the Navy on the designs they choose to fulfil this task. The Heads of Agreement signed with the Commonwealth of Australia in November 2023 to establish a Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement, if ultimately signed, will establish Austal as the Commonwealth’s strategic shipbuilder at Henderson, Western Australia, for all Tier Two vessels.... The Australian Government has assigned the following programs to be built at Henderson:,,, Eight General Purpose Frigates; Six Large Optionally Crewed Surface Vessels..."

Austal has significant experience in optionally crewed vessels. Approximately twelve months earlier, Austal USA delivered the largest autonomous capable surface ship in the US Navy, USNS Apalachicola (EPF 13); and last month Austal launched the US Navy’s newest Overlord Unmanned Surface Vessel “Vanguard” (OUSV3). Vanguard is the first Unmanned Surface Vessel purpose-built for US Navy autonomous operations from the keel-up.

In addition, Austal Australia has been trialling uncrewed operations on a former Armidale-class Patrol Boat, now named Sentinel, as part of the Patrol Boat Autonomy Trial for the Royal Australian Navy, with Trusted Autonomous Systems and Greenroom Robotics.