HMAS Hunter

HMAS Hunter (FFG) is the lead ship of the future Hunter-class of heavy guided-missile frigates of the Royal Australian Navy. It is under construction, and is expected to enter service in 2034.

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 & 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]