The Australian Government directed an independent analysis to assess the Royal Australian Navy’s surface combatant fleet capability to ensure its size, structure and composition complemented the capabilities of the forthcoming conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines.

The independent analysis included an assessment of capability requirements, cost, workforce, schedule, risk and continuous Australian naval shipbuilding. It concurred with the DSR’s findings that the current and planned surface combatant fleet is not appropriate for the strategic environment we face, noting it is the oldest fleet Navy has operated in its history. It made clear that we need a surface fleet of warships with greater capability in integrated air and missile defence, multi-domain strike and undersea warfare. These are the capabilities needed to support critical activities, including patrolling our northern approaches, close escort and theatre sea lift missions.

The Independent Analysis Team’s report is a classified document containing extensive capability and operational analysis and includes 18 recommendations to government. Part B of this document contains an unclassified section of the Executive Summary from that report. 

Key government responses:

• The Government agrees that frigates and destroyers are a critical component of the enhanced lethality surface combatant fleet, with future upgrades necessary to ensure they possess the lethality and survivability to operate in our complex and heightened strategic environment.
• The Government will accelerate the acquisition of 11 general purpose frigates to deliver capability sooner and address the risk presented by an ageing and increasingly fragile surface combatant fleet.
• The Government agrees that optionally crewed vessels will enhance the lethality and survivability of the joint integrated force, with this modern technology also reducing the crewing requirement for Navy.
• The Government agrees that in addition to Hunter class frigates, optimised for undersea warfare, and upgraded Hobart class destroyers, general purpose frigates are needed to provide Navy with the necessary number of platforms to meet the strategic challenges Australia faces, provide enhanced availability and to secure our northern approaches.