HMAS Hunter

HMAS Hunter (FFG) is the lead ship of the Hunter-class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy.

Type 26 frigate
History
Australia
Name	Hunter
Namesake	John Hunter
Ordered	21 June 2024
Builder	BAE Systems Australia, Osborne
Cost	AU$3.9 billion
Commissioned	Projected 2031[1]
In service	Projected 2034[2]
Identification	Pennant number:
Status	Under construction
General characteristics
Type	Hunter-class frigate
Displacement	8,800 t (8,700 long tons; 9,700 short tons) full load displacement
Length	151.4 m (497 ft)
Beam	21.4 m (70 ft)
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 nautical miles (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[4] 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 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: 2 x 4-canister advanced anti-ship missiles 32 Mark 41 Vertical Launch System firing: RIM-66 Standard 2 RIM-162 ESSM BGM-109 Tomahawk Torpedoes: MU90 Impact torpedoes[3] Guns: 1 × 5-inch 54 calibre Mark 45 Mod 4 dual purpose gun (127 mm) 2 × 30mm short-range gun systems 2 × 20mm Phalanx CIWS
Aircraft carried	1 × MH-60R ‘Romeo’ Seahawk armed with: 2 × Mk 54 MAKO Torpedo 4 × AGM-114 Hellfire[5]
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[6]

Development and design

Main article: Hunter-class frigate

The Hunter-class frigate is a future class of frigates for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), partly to replace the Anzac-class and as a supplement to Hobart-class destroyers. Construction is expected to begin in 2020, with the first of nine vessels to enter service in the late 2020s.^[7] The Program is expected to cost AU$35 billion 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.^[8]

The Hunter-class frigate will be an Australian variation of the Type 26 class frigate that is to be operated by the Royal Navy from the mid-2020s. The class will have a 8,800-tonne (8,700-long-ton; 9,700-short-ton) full load displacement and will be approximately 150 metres (490 ft) in length. The vessel will be capable of sailing in excess of 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph) and will have a full complement of 180 crew.^[9][3]

Construction and career

Hunter was ordered on 30 June 2018 and named after Vice Admiral John Hunter. She will be built by BAE Systems Australia in Osborne.^[10] First steel was cut on prototype blocks in December 2021.^[11] The first steel that will actually be used in Hunter was cut in June 2024.^[12] The ship had been expected to be commissioned in 2031^[13] but is only projected to be operational in 2034.^[14]