Babcock pitches frigate solution to expand Navy firepower, fleet
11 August 23
Babcock has responded to the growing speculation about the future Tier 2 combatants identified in the Defence Strategic Review, drawing on the experience and expertise that helped the company secure the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigate contract with the Arrowhead 140 option.
Amid growing speculation around the future of the Royal Australian Navy’s multi-billion-dollar Hunter Class frigate program, as a result from the findings of the Albanese government’s Defence Strategic Review (DSR) and the currently underway Surface Fleet Review, a number of prospective industry partners have started circling to address the changing requirements of the Navy’s future surface fleet.
A key pillar for delivering this is the Royal Australian Navy and its surface and submarine fleets, respectively. In recognising this, the DSR identifies the need to establish: “An enhanced lethality surface combatant fleet, that complements a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine fleet, is now essential given our changed strategic circumstances … Australia’s Navy must be optimised for operating Australia’s immediate region and for the security of our sea lines of communication and maritime trade.”
While both Navantia and Lürssen have been highly active with their respective proposals to help support the expansion of the Navy’s surface fleet, with proposals to meet the Tier 1 and Tier 2 requirements identified in the DSR, Babcock has been silently sharpening its pitch to deliver Navy a fleet of general-purpose frigates to fill the Tier 2 role.
The review establishes the need for: “An enhanced lethality surface combatant fleet, that complements a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine fleet, is now essential given our changed strategic circumstances.”
Explaining further, the government and the review believes such a force structure should incorporate “Tier 1” and “Tier 2” surface combatants to provide for “increased strike, air defence, presence operations, and anti-submarine warfare”, the review unpacks this, stating: “Enhancing Navy’s capability in long-range strike (maritime and land), air defence, and anti-submarine warfare requires the acquisition of a contemporary optimal mix of Tier 1 and Tier 2 surface combatants, consistent with a strategy of a larger number of small surface vessels.”
Leveraging the experience and expertise developed through the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigate program, which will see a similar expansion to the Royal Navy’s surface combatant fleet to what is expected with the Royal Australian Navy’s surface fleet, Babcock is presenting the Arrowhead general purpose frigate.
In a statement, Babcock Australasia chief executive officer Andrew Cridland said, “Babcock’s Arrowhead, a Type 31 frigate derivative, is a capable, adaptable, and multi-mission modern warship that is operationally proficient in both blue water and littoral areas. We consider the Arrowhead would deliver significant capability to the Royal Australian Navy and meet naval requirements both now and into the future.”
Source: Defence Connect