The Royal Australian Navy is set to expand its fleet to 26 warships, according to a new independent review, with the government accepting all recommendations except for one related to an upgrade for aging Anzac-class frigates. The plan aims to supplement nuclear-powered submarines to be acquired under the AUKUS agreement, with nine tier 1 destroyers and frigates, 11 tier 2 frigates, and six optionally manned vessels.
The review recommended commissioning 11 general-purpose frigates to address a looming capability gap, with the first three to be procured from overseas and the remainder constructed in Western Australia. The plan also includes six large optionally crewed surface vessels based on an American design. The entire plan is “fully funded” with an additional AU$11.1 billion allocated over the next decade, but challenges remain in increasing defense spending to resource these acquisitions.
The Navy faces challenges in crewing the expanded fleet, with the need to increase military members. Questions also remain over the shipbuilding workforce and the workforce required to support the new construction. A new shipbuilding plan is expected later this year to address these concerns and ensure the successful implementation of the fleet expansion.
