Three shipbuilding announcements in one day

Australian Defence Magazine ^ | 18 April 2016

[Oztrich Boy]

The Government has announced the tenderers and build locations for three shipbuilding programs, namely OPVs (Sea 1180), the Pacific Patrol Boat replacements (Sea 3036) and the future frigates (Sea 5000).

Twelve Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) will be built initially in Adelaide until first steel is cut for the future frigates, also pre-determined for that city. Up to 21 Pacific Patrol Boats will be built by Austal in Henderson, WA.

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As part of the Competitive Evaluation Process (CEP) three designers [for the OPV]have been shortlisted; Damen of the Netherlands, Fassmer of Germany, and Lürssen of Germany to refine their designs. This program is estimated to be worth more than $3 billion.

First pass approval for the Future Frigates under Sea 5000 has also been granted. Three designers – BAE Systems with the Type 26 Frigate; Fincantieri with the FREMM Frigate, and Navantia with a redesigned F100 – have been short-listed to refine their designs. The frigates will all be built in Adelaide, incorporating the Australian-developed CEA Phased-Array Radar. The designers who have missed out are the German Blohm & Voss with their Type 125 Stabilisation frigate and the French DCNS with their version of the FREMM.

...

Combined first and second pass approval has been given for the replacement Pacific Patrol Boats under Sea 3036. Austal has been selected as the preferred tenderer to construct and maintain up to twenty-one replacement steel-hulled Pacific Patrol Boats in Henderson, WA.

[Oztrich Boy]

Never rains but it pours. up to 42 vessels. This is the biggest commitment to naval shipbuilding in Australia in 70 years

(Probably an election in the wind). That said unlike some nations, < cough>Canada< /cough> we generally go ahead with most announced naval programs to at least part completion.

The Frigate Contenders

French Germans Japanese out. Italians build good ships and have most mature design, Spanish F-100 hull already being built in Adelaide (may not be a plus) and weapons commonality to Australian equipment but hull design outdated, British; well we speak the language, but design needs a lot of work - Actually, as we would be buying more and better equipped T26s than the Royal Navy, perhaps Australia should have design leadership. ell they seem to give it to the French at the drop of a hat)

[Squantos]

BTTT .... Good !

[Pecos]

It looks like Australia SEA 1180 project may be repeating the U.S. LCS mistake - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Australian_offshore_combatant_vessel

[Squantos]

Oh I hope not ..... Have to go read . Thanks for the link !!

[Oztrich Boy]

It looks like Australia SEA 1180 project may be repeating the U.S. LCS mistake -

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Nope the LCS mistake was too ambitious with no clear objective, not knowing what they doing, and the ridiculous 50 knots speed, resulting in an oversized, overpriced hull with features useful in only a minority od the supposed missions (Who needs 4000 ton 50 knot minesweepers?)

The Offshore Combatant Vessel (SEA 1180 that was), had missions compatible with a common hull. At the time I visualized a layout similar to the Leeuwin survey vessels.

More speed, bigger heli hanger, clear out under the flight deck for the flex deck, shooting thing up front - good to go.

Surveying: carries survey launches as here

Patrol: 2-3 big RHIBs

Mine warfare: underwater minehunting drones

Plus mission modules on the flex deck

But that's by and by. SEA 1180 as is the OPVs only.

That said, If the Damen design is favourite - and it was the only one of the 3 finalists selected from Pacific 2015 survey/mine warfare adaption doesn't seem impossible.

Hanger and deck for 11 tonne heli, 5 module flex deck under the flight deck

[Pecos]

Thanks for the input.

[sukhoi-30mki]

Its funny the Italian design is part of a joint program with the French! My guess is the French wouldn’t mind being dropped given they’ve bagged the bigger prize of the sub contract.

About contenders, the Spanish are building a new frigate class, but I’m not sure if it will be ready on time for Australia/export considerations. Sad that the Mitsubishi offering wasn’t considered.

[Oztrich Boy]

Maybe because they offered a 3000 ton (which we have already found too limited) frigate, while everybody else was offering the 6000 tonners the Japanese call destroyers

Or maybe because they didn't bother to build a model with CEAFAR2 radar (^_^)