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Royal Australian Navy - Modernization

Australia has embarked on its largest naval warship acquisition program since World War II. The major new direction that has emerged through consideration of current and future requirements is a significant focus on enhancing maritime capabilities. Over the two decades 2010 to 2030 the Royal Australian Navy plans to acquire over 40 new ships and submarines along with new sensors, weapons and equipment worth around $70 billion. The shopping list includes 12 Future Submarines, 8 Future Frigates and 20 Offshore Combatant Vessels, along with submarine and surface ship upgrades. Some of these projects won’t get under way for another 10 years or more.

By the mid-2030s, the RAN will have a heavier and more potent maritime force. This entails the acquisition a fleet of 47 warships including doubling the size of the submarine force (12 more capable boats to replace the current fleet of six Collins class submarines), replacing the current Anzac class frigates with 11 more capable Future Frigates optimised for ASW; 20 offshore combat ships, two very large amphibious ships, a strategic sealift ship and new supply ship, and enhance the capability for offshore maritime warfare, border protection and mine countermeasures. This armada is what Defence calls Force 2030. The costs of the naval platforms alone amount to about AU$80 billion. If the costs of maintaining these warships through their expected 25-year life cycle are included, then the total is approaching AU$250 billion.

The Defence Strategic Review, released 24 April 2023, set the agenda for ambitious, but necessary, reform to Defence's posture and structure. The Review includes specific directions to Defence with immediate effect, while establishing a methodical and comprehensive process for long-term and sustainable implementation. Australia’s Navy must be optimised for operating in Australia’s immediate region and for the security of our sea lines of communication and maritime trade. Maritime domain immediate investment priorities.

Australia strategic circumstances require naval capability that contribute effectively to the ADF’s ability to shape the strategic environment, deter potential adversaries and deny their ability to achieve objectives contrary to Australian national interests. The acquisition of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines will transform Navy’s capability. Nuclear-powered submarines are key assets both in effecting a strategy of denial and in the provision of anti-submarine warfare and long-range strike options.

An enhanced lethality surface combatant fleet, that complements a conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine fleet, is now essential given the changed strategic circumstances. As a maritime nation dependent on sea lines of communication, it is essential that the shape, size and scope of the Navy’s surface combatant fleet is appropriate for the levels of risk now faced. Such a fleet should consist of Tier 1 and Tier 2 surface combatants in order to provide for increased strike, air defence, presence operations and anti-submarine warfare.

Enhancing Navy’s capability in long-range strike (maritime and land), air defence and anti-submarine warfare requires the acquisition of a contemporary optimal mix of Tier 1 and Tier 2 surface combatants, consistent with a strategy of a larger number of smaller surface vessels. This would significantly increase Navy’s capability through a greater number of lethal vessels with enhanced long-range strike (maritime and land) and air defence capabilities, together with the ability to provide presence in Australia's northern maritime approaches.

Navy faces the most significant workforce challenges of the three services. Assuring an adequate workforce to sustainably meet enterprise priorities and transformation, government-directed tasking, readiness for future contingencies, and transitioning new and technologically advanced capabilities into service is Navy’s biggest challenge.

The hierarchy of ship types is generally determined by the size, weight, firepower and employment of each vessel. Jennifer Parker noted "The RAN’s fleet structure demonstrates that this hierarchy isn’t strict. The 10,000-tonne Hunter-class frigate is to be almost three times the displacement of the Anzac-class frigate at 3,600 tonnes. On the other hand, the RAN’s Hobart-class destroyers are based on the design of the Spanish F-100 frigate and have a displacement of about 7,000 tonnes, which makes them more akin to a traditional frigate. A modern corvette can range anywhere between 500 tonnes and 3,000 tonnes, almost the size of an Anzac-class frigate."

Peter Dean wrote: "To meet the DSR’s speed-to-capability imperative and the requirement for a large number of smaller vessels... the Luerssen C90 corvette should be considered.... to meet the defence strategic review’s requirement for an enhanced-lethality surface fleet, minimally armed offshore patrol vessels and patrol boats won’t cut it. Instead, Defence should consider replacing the OPV build with a fleet of much more capable combatants, and a corvette or light frigate option should be seriously looked at..."

The DSR recommended that the Government directs an independent analysis of Navy’s surface combatant fleet capability to ensure the fleet’s size, structure and composition complement the capabilities provided by the forthcoming conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines. The analysis must assess the capability requirements to meet our current strategic circumstances as outlined in this Review. This should include assessment of cost, schedule, risk, and the continuous shipbuilding potential of each option. This examination should be completed by the end of Q3 2023.

In response to the Defence Strategic Review, the Albanese Government agreed to conduct a short, sharp analysis to ensure the size, structure and composition of Navy’s surface combatant fleet complements the capabilities provided by the forthcoming conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines. The analysis was led by retired United States Navy Vice Admiral William Hilarides, assisted by former Secretary of the Department of Finance, Rosemary Huxtable, and former Commander Australian Fleet, Vice Admiral Stuart Mayer.

The Independent Analysis Team (IAT) engaged a range of government officials, Australian Defence Force personnel, industry experts and partners to assess the capability requirements needed to meet our strategic circumstances. The IAT considered more than 63 submissions from interested parties in Australia and around the world to inform its analysis and recommendations. Representatives of 83 companies as well as state and territory government organisations attended an industry briefing held in June. The IAT leads also held more than 20 one-on-one sessions with industry, and state and territory government representatives.

The reports was received on 29 September 2023, and Government will now take the necessary time to consider the analysis and its recommendations. Defence Minister Richard Marles explained at a Submarine Institute of Australia event in mid-September, “Our intention is to provide our response to that, meaning the decisions which come from that, in really the first part of the first couple of months of next year. We’ll try and get this out the door as quickly as we can, but that’s essentially the timeframe that we’re working on.”

On 05 August 2025, the Albanese Government announced that it was accelerating the delivery of a larger and more lethal surface combatant fleet with the selection of the upgraded Japanese Mogami-class frigate as the preferred platform for the Royal Australian Navy's future fleet of general purpose frigates. Following a rigorous and competitive tender process, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' Mogami-class frigate was assessed as best able to quickly meet the capability requirements and strategic needs of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The Defence was to then proceed with the next stage of the procurement process with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, with the aim to enter early into binding, commercial contracts with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and the government of Japan in 2026.

The Albanese Government's response to the Independent Analysis of Navy's Surface Combatant Fleet outlined that the first three general purpose frigates would be built offshore. This accelerated program will see the first three frigates built in Japan - with the first scheduled to be delivered to Australia in 2029 and operational in 2030. As a result, the Navy would receive its first new surface combatant five years earlier than planned by the former Coalition government. Successful consolidation of the Henderson precinct in Western Australia is expected to enable the remainder of the build to be constructed locally, in line with the Albanese Government's commitment to continuous naval shipbuilding.