Hunter-class frigate

Artist's impression of the BAE Systems Type 26 frigate.
Class overview
Builders	BAE Systems Australia, Osborne Naval Shipyard
Operators	Royal Australian Navy
Preceded by	Anzac class frigate
Cost	A$46 billion (2020)[1] for 9 units out-turned (est.) A$6.2 billion (2023)[2] acquisition budget for first 3 ships
Built	From 2024
In service	From 2034
Planned	6 (from 9)
Building	1
Cancelled	3
General characteristics
Type	Frigate/destroyer
Displacement	8,167 t (8,038 long tons)[4] Stability Lightship 8,800 t (8,700 long tons) full load displacement[5]
Length	151.4 m (496 ft 9 in)[6]
Beam	21.4 m (70 ft 3 in)[8]
Propulsion	CODLOG configuration 1 × Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine 4 × MTU Type 20V 4000 M53B high-speed diesel generators 2 × electric motors
Speed	27+ knots
Range	7,000 nmi (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) in electric motor drive[3]
Complement	180 personnel, with accommodation for 208
Sensors and processing systems	Command & Control: Aegis combat system[9] Saab 9LV tactical interface Surveillance & Weapon Sensors: CEA Technologies CEAFAR2 phased array radar CEAFAR-L L-band long range surveillance radar CEAFAR-S S-band multi-function radar CEAMOUNT fire control illuminator Chess Dynamics SeaEagle FCEO electro-optical system Underwater Warfare Systems Ultra S2150 hull-mounted sonar Thales Sonar 2087 towed array and variable depth sonar
Electronic warfare & decoys	Nulka decoy launchers
Armament	Missiles: 32-cell Mk41 VLS firing: RIM-66 Standard 2 RIM-162 ESSM 2 x 4-canister Naval Strike Missile launchers Torpedoes: 2 x twin torpedo launchers firing MU90 Impact torpedoes[3] Guns: 1 × 5"/62 caliber Mark 45 mod 4 main gun 2 × 30mm Mk44 Bushmaster II Typhoon Mk-30C RWS 2 × 20mm Phalanx CIWS
Aircraft carried	1 × MH-60R ‘Romeo’ Seahawk armed with: 2 × Mk 54 MAKO Torpedo 4 × AGM-114 Hellfire[7]
Aviation facilities	Large Chinook capable flight deck Enclosed hangar Facilities for UAVs
Notes	Flexible Mission Bay: Rolls-Royce Mission Bay Handling System 2nd helicopter (MH-60R) 4 x 11m RHIB 10 x 20 foot containers UAVs and UUVs[10]

The Hunter-class frigate is an under construction class of six heavy frigates for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to replace the Anzac class.

The genesis of the Future Frigate Program came in 2009, when the Rudd government’s Defence White Paper signalled Australia’s intent to "acquire a fleet of eight new Future Frigates, which will be larger than the Anzac-class vessels" with a focus on anti-submarine warfare.^[11] With an initial tender expected in 2019–20, in 2014 the Abbott government announced that work had been brought forward, funding a preliminary design study focused on integrating a CEAFAR radar and Saab combat system on the hull of the Hobart-class destroyer.

Following a report by the RAND Corporation into options for Australia's naval shipbuilding industry, the Government announced an $89 billion naval shipbuilding plan. This plan brought the schedule of the Future Frigate Program forward by three years and announced a "continuous onshore build program to commence in 2020" in South Australia.^[12] A competitive evaluation process was announced in April 2016, and a request for tender was released in March 2017 to three contenders: Navantia, Fincantieri, and BAE Systems as part of a competitive evaluation process.^[13] The program is expected to cost AU$35 billion.

In June 2018, the BAE Systems Type 26 frigate was selected as the winner.^{[14][15][16][17]}

In June 2024, construction began at the Osborne Naval Shipyard and the first delivery is expected in 2034.