BAE Systems' Hunter-Class Frigate Program Faces Delays and Cost Increases in Australia
Australia has laid the keel for the first Hunter-class frigate, NUSHIP Hunter, at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia. This event marks the beginning of the full assembly of the Royal Australian Navy's new anti-submarine warships. The Hunter-class design is derived from the Royal Navy's Type 26 frigate but has undergone significant modifications, resulting in a considerably larger and differently equipped vessel. The program, which initially ordered nine frigates in 2018, has been reduced to six following a 2024 surface fleet review by the Australian government. The ships are primarily designed for anti-submarine warfare but have been re-engineered to possess enhanced air defense capabilities compared to their British counterparts. BAE Systems, the company responsible for the construction, states that while the program has experienced substantial delays and cost growth, largely due to radar-related redesigns since the Type 26 platform was chosen in 2018, construction is now adhering to its revise... 
