Surface Fleet Review

The Enhanced Lethality Surface Combatant Review (or the Surface Fleet Review) was a 2024 independent review of the surface fleet of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), that was authorised as a result of the larger Defence Strategic Review. It considered and recommended actions the RAN needed to take to solidify Australia's war-fighting capabilities on the maritime front. The review aims to counteract China and 'Chinese coercion' in the region. It was announced by Deputy-Prime Minister Richard Marles and Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy on 20 February 2024.

Enhanced Lethality Surface Combatant Review
Presented	20 February 2024
Signatories	Minister for Defence - Richard Marles Minister for Defence Industry - Pat Conroy
Purpose	To determine the future of the Royal Australian Navy surface fleet

Upon governmental approval, the review established several programs, including a General Purpose Frigate Program, an optionally-crewed missile boat program, as well as various programs to improve the capability of existing ship classes. These programs were divided into three tiers, each corresponding to different levels of ship capability. The review also focused on shipbuilding programs and infrastructure, and on the procurement of missiles.

Background

The Surface Fleet Review, as well as the Defence Strategic Review, aim to counteract the increasing military power of a belligerent China. This coupled with the major focus and prioritisation of the Australian Army over other branches has created a ground for focus on the neglected Royal Australian Navy. In 2019, the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy had a fleet of 335 ships, 55% larger than in 2005. Although Australia has a much smaller navy at 11 surface combatants, the SFR sets out a range of actions that Australia should take to increase the firepower and effectiveness of its naval assets. In 2021, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that Australia would cancel its contract with the French Naval Group for 12 Attack-class conventionally-powered submarines for the SSN-AUKUS nuclear-powered design in collaboration with the UK and US. France described the renegotiation as a 'stab in the back' ("poignarder dans le dos").

In response to the recommendations of the larger military-wide Defence Strategic Review, the Australian Government commissioned an "Independent Analysis into Navy's Surface Combatant Fleet" to consolidate and consider what changes should be made to make the naval fleet more lethal and efficient. The review was announced on 20 February 2024 by Defence Minister and Prime Minister, Richard Marles, alongside Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy. Marles stated that the plans of the review would enable Australia to 'deter Chinese coercion' and maintain 'Australia['s] way of life'.

Outcome and response

Tier 1

HMAS Hobart in 2017

The Type 26 is the base platform of Hunter

Mogami-class frigate, a contender for the frigate program

Base ship of the Arafura-class

Cape-class vessel in Darwin Harbour, 2014

The government plans to upgrade the Tier 1 Hobart-class destroyers. The major upgrades include increasing the Aegis Combat System from Baseline 8 to 9 and possibly upgrading the radar system. The shipbuilders will also alter the missile cells so as to accommodate for more advanced missiles such as the Tomahawk, the Naval Strike Missile, and the SM-6 anti-ballistic missile.

As a result of the review, the Department of Defence (DoD) has agreed to make various concessions to the Hunter-class frigate program, the largest of which perhaps being the reduction of the total order of vessels, of which the DoD has announced their intent to slash the program to six vessels instead of the original nine that were planned. The DoD also followed the recommendation of the review to assess the feasibility of adapting the frigate to allow for the launching of the Tomahawk cruise missile.

Tier 2

In response to the aging nature of the current Anzac-class frigates of the RAN and in accordance with the recommendations of the review, the DoD has announced their intent to procure 11 'General Purpose Frigates (GPFs)'. They are intended to form part of a 'tier 2' fleet: less expensive than their 'tier 1' counterparts whilst still retaining adequate firepower, especially when it comes to Vertical launching system (VLS) cells. The GPFs will gradually replace the Anzac frigates as they come out of service, and the first batch is to be built in an accelerated manner overseas, and later transition to Henderson Naval Base for construction. The DoD has outlined four shortlisted ships to be considered for the program:

• German MEKO 200, the same design used for Anzac-class frigates.
• Japanese Mogami 30FFM stealth frigate.
• South Korean Daegu FFX/Chungnam FFX frigate.
• Spanish ALFA3000 corvette, the same design used before the review to advocate for a 'Tasman-class' corvette.

In November 2024, it was reported that the government had shortlisted the Japanese and German designs, with a finam decision expected in 2025.

The DoD has announced as a result of the review their program to acquire six 'Large Optionally-Crewed Surface Vessels (LOCV)'. The intended role of these vessels is to act as crewed missile boats; they will have 32 vertical-launch cells, but few close-in weapons. The DoD plans to purchase the ships from the United States contractors on their similar program, but to have them built in Australia. The 32 VLS cells on the ship will allow the system to act as a launch arena for anti-ballistic missiles such as SM-3 and RIM-174 Standard ERAM as well as land-strike missiles and anti-air munitions.

Tier 3

The review emphasised the belief that the Arafura-class is under-gunned and does not possess significant offensive or defensive capability, and as such, the DoD has agreed to reduce the amount of Arafura vessels from the planned twelve down to six vessels. They also agreed to investigate whether the vessels could be used in a specialised role, such as mine countermeasure.

The DoD has agreed to use the Cape-class primarily as an Australian Border Force vessel, as well as manufacture capability on a number of the vessels that would prove useful to the Navy. The government has also agreed to put in place a framework that would allow for all Cape-class vessels to be under the overall responsibility of the Department of Defence, yet maintenance would be funded by the appropriate organisation (ABF or Navy).

Shipbuilding

The review emphasised that the government of the day must commit to continuing Australia's domestic shipbuilding industry. As a result of this the government made various concessions to accommodate this with projects divided across Australia's two manufacturing naval bases. These projects are:

• At Osborne Naval Base in South Australia;
  • Upgrading all Hobart-class destroyers;
  • Ensure all six Hunter-class frigates be built efficiently;
  • Life of Type Extension (LOTE) upgrades of Collins-class submarines;
  • 3 replacement destroyers for the Hobart-class to be built following completion of the Hunter program;
• At Henderson Naval Base in Western Australia;
  • Construct 8 out of the 11 General Purpose Frigates;
  • Build all of the 6 Optionally-crewed missile boats; and
  • 2 additional evolved-Cape-class patrol boats.

South Australian Premier, Peter Malinauskas praised the government's allocation of shipbuilding programs to South Australia.

Execution of the review

HMAS Sydney has been fitted with the NSM

In May 2024, it was proven that the newest destroyer of the RAN, HMAS Sydney, was fitted with Naval Strike Missile launchers. According to the SIPRI arms transfers database, Australia placed an order for an unknown quantity of the Block-1A NSMs with delivery to begin in 2024. In July 2024, during Exercise RIMPAC, HMAS Sydney successfully fired its first NSM in the waters surrounding Hawaii. Sydney contributed to the SINKEX of the USS Tarawa with an NSM during RIMPAC 2024.

The first ship of the Hunter-class frigate program, HMAS Hunter, had its steel cut on 21 June 2024 and is expected to be launched in 2029-30, and commissioned in 2034.

On 4 September 2024, Australia and Japan signed a deal to further collaborate on long-range missiles, especially for ship use. Australia agreed to allow Japan to use Australian missile testing ranges for Japanese experiments.

In November 2024, Australia announced its intention to purchase $7 billion dollars worth of SM-2 and SM-6 missiles, both manufactured by Raytheon.

External links

• Surface Fleet Review - Department of Defence