Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates 2.0

[AndyinOz]

Release from the Ministers Office https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releases/2025-08-04/adf-recruitment-surge-biggest-15-years points to note for me are the apparent drop in separations to 7.9%, which is below the 10year average as well as the 75,000 application which apparently are the highest in 5years as well as the 7,059 permanent full-time personnel increase being the highest intake since the 2009-10 period. From some of the commentary I have seen online so far the ADF is saying welcome to the TikTok generation with that platform apparently being leveraged with adverts and such.

 

[hauritz]

I have my doubts about the U.S LOSVs too.
6 GPF built overseas + 6-8 built here sounds reasonable if they cancel the LOSV build of 6.

Or we could see Australia join the LUSV program the Japanese have going on.


Naval News (2m30 in)

The DSR took a simplistic view of this capability. They seemed to be thinking of just an optionally crewed missile barge instead of the family of systems that would actually be required.

I don’t think Australia will be abandoning the idea of autonomous vessels. Far from it in fact. What they will probably have to consider is a larger mix of vessels.

In Australia’s case it could turn into a project much larger and more complex than what was alluded to in the DSR.

U.S. Navy Sets Sights on Fleet-Wide Family of Unmanned Ships - Naval News

The Modular Attack Surface Craft (MASC) USV program was announced by the U.S. Navy's Unmanned Maritime Systems Program Office (PMS 406) this week. It seeks to deliver up to three different USVs for wide scale operational use in the U.S. Navy. The program is a culmination of years of testing and...

www.navalnews.com

 

[InterestedParty]

But the Evolved Mogami is already in production, the A210 is not.

I have no experience in a military context but when I was an engineer with BHP we were trying to fight off a German competitor offering cheaper prices for major mill components.
Once we were shutdown the prices were jacked up. I would trust the Japanese far more readily

 

[Reptilia]

The LCM concept always struck me as not one thing or the other.
Too small to carry a meaningful payload.
Load weight or lane meters.
Too big for a true riverine asset
Too short ranged for our needs
Coastal or OS

The LCM with a slight increase in size up to the French offering ticks the box

Cheers S

Yup, by the numbers (if true)

55mx10.5m vs 70mx10.6m
2,800nm vs 2150nm
+14knts vs 16knts top speed
90-100 ton max load vs 200 ton max load
26 crew vs 18 crew
72 troops vs 260 troops
6 20ft TEU containers vs 12
namjet waterjet vs prop driven

1 M1A2 vs 2
2 Redback or Boxer vs 4
4 HIMARS or Bushmaster vs 8+
not only that but the French vessel could potentially carry the typhon missile system?


Where the French craft may fail…

‘They’re not specifying the size of the vessel although maximum draft is set at 1.6 metres and there’s an air draft limitation of six metres so the vessel can pass under a traffic bridge to reach the Ross Island barracks in Townsville.”

Maybe move the barracks forward of the bridge…

Ship to shore connectors - Australian Defence Magazine

The Request for Tender (RFT) for a new landing craft to replace the Army’s venerable LCM-8 closes in mid-June, and industry comments on what is being requested range from ‘very ambitious’ and ‘incredi...

www.australiandefence.com.au

 

[seaspear]

Slightly off topic but originally the Hobart class were designed to incorporate various functions that would enable it to operate in cold weather in Australia's southern regions

A closer look at Navy’s new guided missile destroyers

The Hobart Class Guided Missile Destroyers will provide the Navy with one of the world's most capable multi-purpose warships, enhancing the air defence, surface, subsurface

www.defenceconnect.com.au

Should such ability be considered for new frigates?

 

[iambuzzard]

I have no experience in a military context but when I was an engineer with BHP we were trying to fight off a German competitor offering cheaper prices for major mill components.
Once we were shutdown the prices were jacked up. I would trust the Japanese far more readily

As would I

 

[Volkodav]

Worse comes to worse, if LOSV is a no starter, build more GPFs.

A big plus with the Mogami is small crew plus extra accommodation means they can carry more trainees.

 

[StevoJH]

Worse comes to worse, if LOSV is a no starter, build more GPFs.

A big plus with the Mogami is small crew plus extra accommodation means they can carry more trainees.

The issue I see with the LOSV is that because the RAN plan on operating them with crew, they need to have some minimal sort of defensive capability.

At that point you basically end up with a frigate?

 

[Reptilia]

An Upgraded Mogami delivered in

2028(2nd of the 2 built from 2025)
2029(1 of the 3 built from 2026)
2030(1 of the 3 built from 2027)

Really the fastest timeline we could hope for -would be an awesome outcome.

 

[Richo99]

The issue I see with the LOSV is that because the RAN plan on operating them with crew, they need to have some minimal sort of defensive capability.

At that point you basically end up with a frigate?

I've never quite understood the current proposal. You build 6 (not many), most proposals appear to have 16 missile cells (not many), and they prob have to sail with a tier1 conbatant (not independant).... why not just put 16 extra cells on each Hunter? On an amost 10000t ship, there appears to be plenty of space to go from an assumed 32 to 48 cells...

 

[iambuzzard]

Worse comes to worse, if LOSV is a no starter, build more GPFs.

A big plus with the Mogami is small crew plus extra accommodation means they can carry more trainees.

Volks, I think you're right. LOSV seems to be in the too hard basket and more GPFs seem to be the best option, if there's the political will.