The Royal Australian Navy, although a significant force in the Asia-Pacific region, is nonetheless classed as a medium-sized navy. Its fleet is based around two main types of surface combatant, with limited global deployment and air power capability. However, in 2009, a white paper, Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030, was produced by the Australian government which set out a programme of defence spending that will see significant improvements to the RAN's fleet and capabilities. Australia released its Surface Fleet Review , which analysed the future of the RAN and outlined a procurement plan.
The Defence White Papers released in 2013 and 2016, along with the 2020 Defence Strategic Update, maintained a relatively conservative approach to the Royal Australian Navy's force structure. These documents reaffirmed plans for a modest fleet comprising two landing helicopter docks, twelve diesel-electric submarines, twelve frigates and destroyers, and twelve offshore patrol vessels (OPVs). However, the establishment of AUKUS in 2021, the release of the Defence Strategic Review in 2023, and the Independent Surface Combatant Fleet Review in 2024 have marked a significant shift in naval planning. The plans proposed to expand the Royal Australian Navy to a size not seen since the end of the Second World War, including eight nuclear-powered attack submarines, three Hobart-class air warfare destroyers, six Hunter-class anti-submarine warfare frigates, eleven general-purpose frigates, six large optionally-crewed surface vessels equipped with a vertical launch system, six offshore patrol vessels, and ten patrol boats. This major expansion was projected to be complete by the 2040s.
Future vessels The following is a list of vessels currently (as of June 2026) ordered or under construction for the Royal Australian Navy: Class Ship Pennant No. Builder Type Displacement Launched Commissioning Status OPV 205 Civmec, Australian Marine Complex Offshore patrol vessel 1,640 tonnes 31 October 2025 2026 Under construction OPV 206 2027 OPV 207 2028 OPV 208 2029 Sail training ship Young Endeavour II Birdon Group, Port Macquarie Barquentine Under construction General Purpose Frigate TBD Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Japan Frigate, guided missile 6,200 tonnes 2029 2030 Ordered TBD TBD 2034 TBD Australian Marine Complex Planned TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD Before 2040 BAE Systems Maritime Australia, Osborne Naval Shipyard Frigate, guided missile 8,200 tonnes 2032 Under construction Ordered TBD Planned TBD TBD
The following is a list of vessels currently planned for the Royal Australian Navy: Programme Ship Builder Type Displacement Launched Commissioning TBD General Dynamics Electric Boat, Newport News Shipbuilding, United States Attack submarine, nuclear-powered 7,900 tonnes 2032 TBD TBD SSN-AUKUS TBD ASC Pty Ltd and BAE Systems Maritime Australia, Osborne Naval Shipyard Attack submarine, nuclear-powered 10,000 tonnes Early 2040s TBD TBD TBD TBD replacement TBD Salvage and repair vessel TBD Australian large optionally-crewed surface vessel program TBD Australian Marine Complex Optionally Crewed Surface Vessel TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD replacement TBD Osborne Naval Shipyard TBD TBD
Surface combatants Anzac-class helicopter frigate
The is the main surface combatant of the Royal Australian Navy. The first unit was commissioned in 1996 and the last entered service in 2006. Starting in November 2003, all eight frigates underwent extensive upgrades under Project SEA 1448 Phase 2, the Anzac Ship Anti-Ship Missile Defence upgrade. Completed in two phases, the following systems were upgraded and installed: Upgrade to the Saab Systems 9LV 453 Combat Management System. Installation of a SAGEM Vampir NG Infra-Red Search and Track System capable of detecting anti-missile and low-flying aircraft near land. Installation of an Australian CEAFAR S-band phased array radar and CEAMOUNT X-band multi-channel phased array missile illuminator to deliver enhanced target detection and better tracking, allowing Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles to engage multiple targets simultaneously. Installation of an I-Band navigation radar to replace existing target indication and Krupp Atlas 9600 radar systems. Final Operating Capability was scheduled for October 2017. The vessels were expected to remain in service until 2032 where they will be replaced with up to nine frigates designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare. Further upgrades under the Anzac Midlife Capability Assurance Program, AMCAP, started in 2018 and were completed in 2026.
The upgrades included using CEAFAR L-band long-range air search radar also planned for use on the Hunter-class frigates.
Other major work as part of AMCAP upgrade included: Upgraded ventilation systems; new sewage systems; Improvements to the Control and Monitoring System; Engine modifications to improve power and efficiency; New communications suite (SEA1442); Upgraded LESCUT; Upgraded AN/SLQ-25C torpedo self-defence systems; and Technical insert for the Saab 9LV 453 combat management system migrating its operating system from Windows to Linux.
Hobart-class destroyer
The s replaced the Adelaide-class frigates. Although the 2009 Defence White Paper and original contract provided for four ships in this class, but the 2016 Defence White Paper resulted in only three being built. Each destroyer was fitted with the Aegis combat system and was based on the F100 design by Spanish shipbuilding company Navantia. Each vessel had cruise missiles and the SM-6 anti-aircraft missile. was commissioned on 23 September 2017, with the following vessels delivered in 2018 and 2019. The destroyers were built by ASC Pty Ltd. Upgrades to this class include an upgraded Aegis Combat System with an Australian developed tactical interface which will be the same as on the Hunter-class FFG. Future potential upgrades include the integration of the SM-6 and the acquisition of the Naval Strike Missile as a replacement of the RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile. The government will invest up to $5.1 billion in upgrades to the Hobart-class destroyer combat management system upgrades at Osborne from 2024.
Hunter-class frigate With the Anzac-class frigates due to begin retiring in the late 2020s, work on a replacement program has begun. The program is expected to cost AU$35 billion and a request for tender for the vessel design was released in March 2017 to three contenders: Navantia, Fincantieri, and BAE Systems as part of a competitive evaluation process. In June 2018, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced that a variation of the BAE design had been selected as the preferred tender for the s. Construction will begin in Adelaide, South Australia in 2020. Australian shipbuilding company BAE Systems Maritime Australia will become a subsidiary of BAE Systems Australia for the duration of the build. It was announced in February 2024 that only six Hunter-class vessels would be built and would serve alongside three upgraded Hobart-class vessels forming the Navy's 'Tier 1' vessels.
Tier 2 Force With the announced changes to the future Navy's Force Structure discussions around what would form the components of the class, or classes, composing the 'Tier 2' force. While the announced changes included increasing the surface fleet from 11 to 26 vessels the majority of the change would come from within this 'Tier 2' force - a combined 17 vessels in this category. The 17 vessels would consist of six new "optionally crewed" vessels to "significantly enhance" the Navy's long-range strike capabilities along with a fleet of 11 'general purpose frigates' with designs from Japan, South Korea, Germany and Spain being considered.
Amphibious warfare
The RAN's amphibious capabilities was greatly increased by a new class of two . These ships, based on Navantia's Strategic Projection Ship (later commissioned into the Spanish Navy as ), displace approximately 27,000 tonnes, can transport 1,000 personnel and 150 vehicles, and can transport these ashore through landing craft carried in a well deck, or helicopters, with up to six operating simultaneously from each ship's flight deck. The new ships, named and , their hulls were built at Navantia's shipyard in Spain, then transported to BAE Systems Australia (BAE acquired Tenix Defence after contract awarded) facilities at Williamstown Dockyard for finishing. The two ships replaced the amphibious vessels. was to be replaced by a strategic sealift vessel of 10,000 to 15,000 tons displacement, which will provides the capacity to transport equipment, supplies, helicopters, and soldiers into zones of operation, and embark or disembark these without port facilities. .In the 2016 defence white paper it revealed that HMAS Choules would fulfill this role. Following the early decommissioning of both Kanimblas and Tobruk being out of action, multiple ships were purchased and or leased to cover the lack of amphibious capability. The RAN planned also replace the six Balikpapan-class heavy landing craft with six larger vessels. In mid-2011, the RAN acquired the former British Royal Fleet Auxiliary landing ship , which entered service in December 2011 as .
Minor vessels Between 1999 and 2003, the RAN acquired six s. Based on Intermarine's s, each ship is equipped with a variable depth sonar, and a pair of Bofors Double Eagle underwater clearance vehicles.
The RAN's main patrol force is the . The first of these, , was commissioned in June 2005, and was the first of fourteen. , the last ship of the class was commissioned in 2008. Two ships have been decommissioned. in 2014 as a result of extensive damage caused by a fire and in 2021.
The 2009 Defence White Paper announced that a new class of 20 offshore combatant vessels would replace the Armidale and Huon classes, along with the and -class survey ships. The multi-role ships are predicted to displace anywhere up to 2,000 tonnes, and may be equipped with a helicopter or unmanned aerial vehicle. However the 2016 Defense White Paper decreased the amount of planned vessels to twelve and stated that they would only replace the Armidales while the other classes would see life-extension work. Lurssen's OPV 80 design was chosen. The class was named (OPV). The first ship will be named . It was determined that this class would be reduced, both in terms of vessel count down from 12 to 6, but also in role with their focus shifting to civil maritime security operations.
During the 2019 election campaign, Scott Morrison announced that one hydrographic survey ship and two minehunters would be constructed from the mid-2020s in the Henderson Shipyard Precinct Under SEA 1905 and SEA 2400. SEA 2400 Hydrographic Data Collection Capability Program which includes the introduction of a Strategic Military Survey Capability (SMSB) to replace the Leeuwin-class survey vessels. While SEA 1905 is the acquisition of a further two Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels in a mine counter-measures configuration. This was expanded in the 2020 Defence Strategic Update and 2020 Force Structure Plan released on 30 June 2020 for up to 8 vessels optimised for mine countermeasures and hydrographic survey roles potentially based on the Arafura design.
The Government announced that six evolved s from Austal to be built in Henderson, Western Australia will be acquired for A$350 million on 1 May 2020 to boost patrol capability.
Submarines
The s, the first of which entered service in 1996, are due to receive a major upgrade to their combat systems, with technology based on the US Navy's . This new system will be introduced in conjunction with the new heavyweight torpedo.