The Australian Department of Defence is investing an unprecedented A$75 billion ($52 billion) in Australia’s maritime capabilities over the next decade, including more than $50 billion in the regeneration and expansion of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) maritime platforms through the naval shipbuilding enterprise. This significant investment builds on the Government’s 2017 Naval Shipbuilding Plan, and will enhance Australia’s warfighting capabilities across its operations. Following today’s announcement of additional acquisition and upgrade plans in the 2020 Force Structure Plan, the Naval Shipbuilding Plan now encompasses over 70 vessels to be built here in Australia, with more opportunities in the future.
Through Australian Naval Shipbuilding Plan we are delivering the ADF with a truly world-class maritime capability to protect maritime trade and the region’s security and prosperity. Under the Naval Shipbuilding Plan, the Government will invest up to $183 billion in naval shipbuilding between now and the 2050’s, through building or upgrading up to 23 differ-ent class of vessels for Navy and Army. With 15,000 new Australian jobs set to be created under the 2017 Naval Shipbuilding Plan, this number will now grow even more with new opportunities being created for Australian defence industry to benefit from.
Consistent with this Government’s Naval Shipbuilding Plan, Defence will continue with the build of:
– 12 Attack Class submarines;
– 9 Hunter Class Frigates;
– 12 Arafura Offshore Patrol Vessel; and
– 21 Guardian Class Pacific Patrol Boats.
Through the 2020 Force Structure Plan, the Morrison Government will be investing in the following additional shipbuilding programs:
– six new Cape Class Patrol Boats built in Western Australia;
– up to eight new mine countermeasure and hydrographic survey vessels built here in Australia, with consideration for the vessels to be based on Navy’s Arafura design;
– two new Australian-built multi-role Sea-Lift and Replenishment ships;
– a replacement for the Young Endeavour youth scheme sail training vessel, built in Australia;
– replacements for the Navy landing craft, carried by the LHD;
– a new vessel to support the Pacific Step-Up, built in Australia,
– the replacement for ADV Ocean Protector;
– a large Salvage and Repair vessel; and
– the build of Army landing craft and Riverine Patrol Vessels.
Since the release of the Naval Shipbuilding Plan, the Government has already begun the construction of nine new vessels at Henderson and Osborne, and has delivered six Guardian Class Patrol Boats to six different Pacific Island countries. Australian Department of Defence will also continue to invest in: new upgrades to the Hobart Class Destroyers, ANZAC Class Frigates and Navy’s Amphibious ships; the design of the future Destroyer; as well as upgrades and life extension to the Collins Class submarines. In support of Defence’s undersea combat and surveillance capability, next‑generation systems including large un-crewed submersibles and undersea surveillance vessels are proposed.
To support a larger and expanded fleet, up to $12 billion will be invested in developing the infrastructure necessary to support the capabilities of our naval fleet during construc-tion, operation and sustainment. This includes expanded undersea warfare facilities, a new Army watercraft base and up-grades to key port and docking facilities.To sustain Australian sovereign naval capabilities, the future of maritime sustainment in Austral-ia is set to change, with a new plan to maximise Australian Industry Capability in defence industry’s national supply chain. Navy’s recently announced Plan Galileo will further lay the foundations for an integrated, consistent approach to maritime sustainment by leveraging the opportunities made avail-able through the Government’s Naval Shipbuilding Plan.
