BAE offers Australia guided missile variant of Hunter-class frigate
The Hunter-class frigate would provide a surface combatant capability matched only by the US Navy's Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. (Photo: BAE Systems)
The Australian Defence Strategic Review has called for a mix of Tier 1 and Tier 2 surface combatants amid speculation that the SEA 5000 Hunter-class frigate project would be cut back to pay for a potential new class of corvette – but BAE has returned fire with a new offering that could change Australian decision-making.
At the Indo-Pacific Maritime exhibition in Sydney on 7 October, BAE Systems outlined its proposal for a new guided missile variant of its Hunter-class frigate that would include a total of some 96 vertical launch cells and an additional 16 Naval Strike Missile launchers.
Speaking to reporters at the exhibition, Ben Hudson, CEO of BAE Systems Australia, said that a new strike module would contain 64 cells with vertical launch tubes that would add to the ship’s existing 32 VLS cells. The new strike cell would be positioned amidships in place of the multi-mission payload bay module containing uncrewed systems,
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
Read this Article
Get access to this article with a Free Basic Account
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 2 free stories per week
- Daily news round-up email service
- Access to all Decisive Edge email newsletters
Unlimited Access
Access to all our premium news as a Premium News 365 Member. Corporate subscriptions available.
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 14-day free trial (cancel at any time)
- Unlimited access to all published premium news
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Airbus wins €480 million contract to build communications network for French air and naval forces]()
Airbus wins €480 million contract to build communications network for French air and naval forces
The IP Network, named RIFAN 3, will build on the work of previous RIFAN 2 network, with development work carried out on the new system between 2026 to 2030.
-
![Kongsberg’s large uncrewed vehicle to join US Navy]()
Kongsberg’s large uncrewed vehicle to join US Navy
The company’s Hugin Superior system has passed its acceptance testing just a year into its contract with the Defense Innovation Unit.
-
![Construction of the Canadian Coast Guard’s largest vessel to start this summer]()
Construction of the Canadian Coast Guard’s largest vessel to start this summer
The project of the CCGS Arpatuuq Polar Icebreaker is currently concluding design details.
-
![Indigenous Iranian Fateh-class submarine fires Valfajr torpedoes in exercise]()
Indigenous Iranian Fateh-class submarine fires Valfajr torpedoes in exercise
The successful launch of the air-propelled torpedoes is seen as a significant step forward in Iranian submarine readiness.
-
![Latest undersea cable damage incident investigated in Baltic Sea]()
Latest undersea cable damage incident investigated in Baltic Sea
No determination has yet been made as to whether the new incident was deliberate, but an investigation by Swedish authorities is ongoing.
