# Australia Hunter-class frigate construction

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/australia-hunter-class-frigate-construction
> Updated: 2026-08-26T08:38:59.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2.

Australia has officially commenced construction on its first Hunter-class anti-submarine warfare frigate by laying the keel at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia. The project is a central component of the nation’s continuous naval shipbuilding strategy and the SEA 5000 Phase 1 program.

Based on the British BAE Systems Global Combat Ship design, the vessels will feature significant Australian and international modifications. These include the domestic CEAFAR2 radar, the US Navy’s Aegis combat system with a Saab interface, and the Thales CAPTAS-4 towed sonar. 

While the program was originally intended to include nine vessels, the Australian government has reduced the procurement to six frigates. The project has seen cost increases, with estimates rising from 35 billion AUD to approximately 45 billion AUD. The lead vessel is expected to enter service in the early 2030s.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-26: Australia lays keel for first Hunter-class frigate

Australia has laid the keel for its first Hunter-class anti-submarine warfare frigate at the Osborne Naval Shipyard, marking a major milestone in the nation's naval modernization program.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/australia-lays-keel-for-first-hunter-class-frigate-1

### 2026-08-24: Australia lays keel for first Hunter-class frigate

BAE Systems Australia has laid the keel for the first Hunter-class frigate at the Osborne Naval Shipyard, a key step in modernizing the Royal Australian Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/australia-lays-keel-for-first-hunter-class-frigate

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Cite as: Australia Hunter-class frigate construction. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/australia-hunter-class-frigate-construction