- Yes - In the Tech Tree.
- Yes - Event/BP.
- Yes - Premium.
- No - I would not like to see the Hunter-class Frigate in game.
2025 Render of the Hunter-class from BAE systems showing off the new Australian CEAFAR 2 radar array and SeaRAM instead of the Phalanx CIWS.
Description:
With the ANZAC-class frigates operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) coming to the end of their serviceable life, the Australian government put forward a two tiered system for their replacement, a heavy, more capable albeit expensive design for the 1st tier frigate, and less capable, yet cheaper and mass producible 2nd tier type.
For the cheaper 2nd Tier frigate, the Japanese Upgraded Mogami-class was chosen, however for the first tier, the British Type 26 Global Combat Ship design was chosen and extensively modified to fit Australian needs. This included entirely new radar systems, weapon systems, among other changes. To indicate these changes, the Australian vessels were designated as the Hunter-class Frigates, named after the First vessel of the class, the future HMAS Hunter.
Part of the capability of the Hunter-class is its ‘mission bay’, which allows it to carry an extra helicopter, UAVs and UUVs for surveillance, 4 extra RHIBs, or 10x20ft containers. This can be swapped to accommodate different mission requirements. In addition to the basic frigate duties, the Hunter-class will assist the Hobart-class with air defence missions due to its strong radar and missile armament.
The Keel laying ceremony for the HMAS Hunter, the first of her class to be laid down. (2026)
History:
With the Australian operated ANZAC-class frigate program completing in 2006 with the commissioning of the last vessel, HMAS Perth in March 2004, the Australian government put forward the initial steps for their replacement, with the 2009 Defence White Paper signalling Australia’s intent to secure a fleet of eight new frigates with a focus on ASW. This was to be under the ‘Future Frigate Program’ (FFP).
By the 2013 White Paper, the need for the FFP was reassured, however, with the Hobart-class DDG building program projecting to finish shortly, and with pressure from the Shipbuilders for further ship orders as to ensure their job security, the Australian Government placed studies as to determine if the Hobart-class hull would be suitable for the FFP. This would form the base of Navantia’s bid, the F-5000 frigate.
The FFP would be slightly amended under the 2016 Defence White Paper, which increased the numbers by one to a total of nine. By April 2016 the Australian Government placed a tender with manufacturers as part of the evaluation process of available designs. Companies included in this tender were BAE, with their Global Combat Ship, Navantia with their F-5000, and Fincantieri with an ASW FREMM variant.
In October 2017 the requirements would be refined, selecting the Aegis combat system and Saab tactical interface for use within the new class.
Navantia’s option, the F-5000, presented the RAN with a vessel that reportedly had 75% commonality with the Hobart-class, which themselves were yet to commission into the RAN, as the program was late and overbudget. The FREMM variant would need little modification for the requirements, including the integration of the CEAFAR radar, however modifications for the fitting of a Mk.45 5-Inch gun were needed, which was part of the requirements for the new class. The FREMM’s designer, Fincantieri, would’ve also had to begin operations in Australia, as that company did not operate in Australia at all during the tender process.
BAE’s Type 26 Global Combat ship presented a ship that needed little modification to fit the requirements, including the 5-inch gun, and easy integration with CEAFAR and a company that was already experienced in the Australian market, as they had purchased Tenix defence, which had already produced the ANZAC-class frigates, and the Canberra-class LHD inside of Australia.
This tender would conclude in September 2018, with BAE’s Type 26 Global Combat Ship being selected as the preferred option. Following the 2016 Defence White Paper, nine vessels were ordered under project SEA 5000 Phase 1. These vessels would be built in Australia, under BAE’s subsidiary, BAE Australia.
As part of reform in February 2024, the Australian Defence minister, Richard Marles, announced that the Hunter-class would be reduced by three vessels, from nine to six, however, the ANZAC replacement program, which used to be just the Hunter-class, was split in two. The six remaining Hunter-class would form the ‘Tier 1’ replacement, while eleven new ‘Tier 2’ vessels would also be acquired. The tender for the latter would form to be the Japanese Upgraded Mogami-class frigates.
This means that the 8-strong ANZAC-class frigates in Australian service are due to be replaced by six Hunter-class, and 11 Upgraded Mogami-class, significantly increasing the number of Frigate hulls.
Early renders from BAE showing the Hunter-class and its different mission bays. As an early render it also shows the older radar layout.
Once the Hunter-class design was finalised, the first steel was cut for the lead ship, HMAS Hunter, in June 2024, following the construction of prototype blocks beginning in December 2021. This work was done at Osborne Naval Shipyard, at Osborne South Australia, however the project as a whole was delayed due to COVID-19, running four years behind schedule and $15 billion AUD over budget.
The six vessels are to be split into two groups, Batch 1, which encompasses the first three vessels, and Batch 2, which is the latter three. It is unclear what upgrades or differences there are between the two, however, BAE has proposed a DDG variant of the Hunter-class to the Australian Government, which increased VLS count to 96. BAE states that this would have little impact on build times, as long as they are part of the 2nd Batch.
Only the first three Batch 1 vessels are currently named, they are the future HMAS Hunter, Flinders, and Tasman, in order of their construction. The other three Batch 2 vessels are not yet named.
The Future HMAS Hunter would have her keel laid down on the 24th of August 2026, with the joining of a two ‘blocks’, forming part of the hull. She is due to commission in 2032, and the 3rd ship, HMAS Tasman, is due to commission in 2036.
| General Characteristics: | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name: Hunter-class | ||||||
| Country: Australia | ||||||
| Type: Frigate | ||||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||
| Dimensions: | ||||||
| Length: 151.4m (496ft 9in) | ||||||
| Beam: 20.8m (68ft 2.8in) | ||||||
| Draught: unknown | ||||||
| Displacement: 8,167t at light load, 8,800t at full load | ||||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||
| Propulsion: | ||||||
| Main Powerplant: 1x Rolls-Royce MT30 @ 36,000kW (48,276hp) | ||||||
| Secondary Powerplant: 4x MTU 20V 4000 M53B diesel engines. @ 3015kW (4100hp) ea | ||||||
| Speed: 27kt+ | ||||||
| Endurance: 7,000nmi | ||||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||
| Armament & sensors: | ||||||
| Compliment: 180, accommodation for 208 | ||||||
| Primary armament: 1x1 5-Inch/54 Mark 45 Mod 4 | ||||||
| Secondary armament: 32-cell Mk.41 VLS firing RIM-66 Standard 2 or quadpacked RIM-162 ESSM, 2x4 NSM canisters | ||||||
| Tertiary armament: 2x2 ASW MU90 Torpedoes, 2x 11-cell SeaRAM firing RIM-116, 2x 30mm Bushmaster Mk.44 on Typhoon Mk.30C RWS | ||||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||
| Systems: | ||||||
| Radar: CEAFAR-2L (L-band ASEA Eerly warning radar), CEAFAR-2S (S-band ASEA surveillance and initial fire control radar), CEAMOUNT (fire control illumiator) | ||||||
| Sonar: Ultra S2150 hull mounted sonar, Thales Captas-4 S2087 Towed & VDS sonar | ||||||
| Decoy and ESM: 3x MASS IR & RF decoy launchers, 4x4 Nulka RF Decoy launchers | ||||||
| Other: SSTD, Anschütz WINBS navigation, BAESMA NAVICS comms, SeaEagle FCEO-A Optical fire control, SAAB 9LV Tac Interface, AEGIS Combat system | ||||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||||||
| Aircraft Specifications: | ||||||
| Type: MH-60R Seahawk | ||||||
| Armament Carried: 2x Mk.54 12.75" Torpedo or 4x AGM-114 Hellfire, or 2x Depth Charges, 1x1 7.62 MG, external fuel tanks | ||||||
| Systems: APKWS, Flares/Chaff, ALFS Sonarbouy, AAR-47 MAWS, AAS-44 FLIR, APS-153 ARPDD, | ||||||
| Engines: 2x GE T-700, producing 1,890hp (1,410 kW) ea | ||||||
| Crew: 3 | ||||||
| Main Rotor Diametre: 16.35m | ||||||
| Length: 19.76m | ||||||
| Height: 5.10m | ||||||
| Range: 470nmi | ||||||
| Max Speed (Never exceed speed) : 330 km/h | ||||||
| Empty Weight: 6,190kg |
BAE render of the Hunter-class, showing the stern and the panels that cover the VDS. The two quad NSM tubes are visible midships.
Sources:
https://www.navy.gov.au/capabilities/ships-boats-and-submarines/hunter-class-frigate
https://www.defence.gov.au/defence-activities/projects/hunter-class-frigate
https://www.baesystems.com/en/product/hunter-class-frigates
Australia Lays Keel for First Hunter-class Anti-Submarine Frigate - Naval News
Hunter-class frigate - Wikipedia
BAE Systems lays first Hunter-class keel - Australian Defence Magazine
Raytheon awarded SeaRAM contract for Australian frigates - Breaking Defense
https://www.kmotorshop.com/en/device/motor-list/3517
