Six large and "optionally crewed" naval vessels heavily armed with missiles will be added to Australia's surface fleet under a dramatic $11 billion reshaping of the navy that will also see the acquisition of 11 new general-purpose frigates to be partly built overseas.
Labor has unveiled its long-awaited "Enhanced Lethality Surface Combatant Fleet", which will include six Hunter-class frigates, reduced from an original plan of nine, as well as upgraded versions of the existing Hobart-class destroyers fitted with Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Under the sweeping overhaul, Australia's current fleet of combat-ready warships would rise from 11 to 26, consisting of nine "Tier 1" frigates and destroyers and 11 smaller general-purpose frigates, as well as six optionally crewed vessels which will form a "Tier 2" force.
Live Moment
Look back at how ABC readers and other Australians responded to this live moment.
Wondering what this is? Join us next time we're live and be part of the discussion.
Australia's oldest currently serving warship, HMAS Anzac, will be immediately retired ahead of the gradual replacement of the aging Anzac-class fleet with new frigates which will first be built in either Germany, Korea, Japan or Spain.
The planned number of Offshore Patrol Vessels being built in Western Australia will be halved to six and will eventually form part of a planned fleet of 25 minor war vessels dominated by Evolved Cape Class patrol boats.
The government will consider the eventual replacement for the Hobart-class destroyers "in the context of the 2026 National Defence Strategy" to align with a continuous naval shipbuilding strategy at Adelaide's Osborne Naval shipyard.
Releasing the plan at Sydney's Garden Island Naval base, Defence Minister Richard Marles insisted the plan was "fully funded" and would inject an additional $1.7 billion over the forward estimates and $11.1 billion over the next decade into defence.
"The enhanced lethality surface combatant fleet will ensure the navy is optimised for operations in our current and future environment, underpinned by the meticulous assessment conducted by the Independent Analysis Team," Mr Marles said.
"This significant advancement in navy capability that will be delivered under this plan requires a strong, sovereign defence industry," Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy added.
https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMicGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDI0LTAyLTIwL2hlYXZpbHktYXJtZWQtb3B0aW9uYWxseS1jcmV3ZWQtc2hpcHMtdW5kZXItbmF2YWwtZmxlZXQtcmVzaGFwZS8xMDM0ODc4NzjSAQA?oc=5
2024-02-19 23:26:25Z
CBMicGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDI0LTAyLTIwL2hlYXZpbHktYXJtZWQtb3B0aW9uYWxseS1jcmV3ZWQtc2hpcHMtdW5kZXItbmF2YWwtZmxlZXQtcmVzaGFwZS8xMDM0ODc4NzjSAQA
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Live moment: Heavily armed 'optionally crewed' ships to enter service under massive reshaping of Australia's naval fleet - ABC News"
Post a Comment