So a fair bit to take in and digest with today's announcements and release, some good news across all services and Defence as a whole, some of the more significant points, IMHO, from the RAN perspective:
4.15 To further expand the ADF’s ability to support an increased presence in
the region, Government’s plans include:
• Design, development and acquisition of two Australian-built
multi-role sealift and replenishment vessels to replace HMAS
Choules. This will greatly extend Navy’s ability to project and sustain
the joint force;
• Life extension of Australian Defence Vessel Ocean Protector and the
acquisition of a replacement vessel with an ice-rated hull capable
of operating in the Southern Ocean, as well as the acquisition
of another vessel built in Australia to support the Australian
Government’s Pacific Step-up initiatives; and
• The acquisition of a support and salvage vessel to enable the
recovery and at-sea repair of large warships.
Interesting move with the JSS, there is only one real design in the water as such with the KD, but we are stipulating Australian designed and built, so KD is not a real option as far as I am concerned, also think the KD is a bit of overkill. If we take our minds back 12 months to Pacific 2019 and the earlier launch of the Navantia Naval Design and Engineering Centre.
“The continuous naval shipbuilding program is a national endeavour,” Mr King said. “Navantia Australia is continuing to grow and develop our sovereign capability, which means drawing on the best engineers and naval architects around the country. The Melbourne Naval Design and Engineering Centre...
navantia.com.au
At PACIFIC 2019, the naval defense exposition held last week in Sydney, Australia, Navantia Australia, the local branch of Spanish shipbuilding group Navantia, unveiled a new Joint Support Ship (JSS) design for both the domestic and export market.
www.navalnews.com
There was a lot of chatter early in the piece on why Navantia had put so much effort into this and their assertion that there would be a requirement from the Australian Government in 2020 for such a design, now not saying they will be an auto select, there will have to be an RFI to look at what else is out there, so betting Navantia & Damen will not doubt put in for this, BMT ?, no doubt among other who may have designs on the books, will be interesting to watch.
The other question off the back of this is, where do we build them ? This is a fantastic step to moving to building all of our shipping requirements in Australia, with the announcement of another dock to compliment CCGD in Sydney, where do they build the second ? I just can't see Adelaide being the option, so WA would be the obvious option, but they are also pretty busy, is the real option to re-purpose Willamstown in Melbourne which I believe is currently owned by BAE ?
The update to the Naval Shipbuilding Plan will enlighten us on this, but with the current plans for the start and subsequent transfer of the OPV's to WA, the Hunters and Attacks, Adelaide I think is pretty much maxed out, along with the strategic need to have separation of building and maintenance capability. Bringing this capability online to have the capability to build the biggest ships needed by the RAN, there is enough work there for a continuous shipbuilding plan for large vessels, 2 x JSS, Pacific support ship, follow on for the LHD's, replacement AOR's, ADV Ocean Protector, Support & Salvage ship, possible replacement for Nuyina etc, Willamstown has the space and potential, again just my thoughts.
That last one is an interesting one, Support & Salvage ship ? So are we talking a Stalwart style ship here ? this will be one to watch and see how it develops and what the actual identified requirements will be ? Happy to be corrected, but to my knowledge there is no current class like this at the moment ? So a little perplexed with what this requirement is and how it has come about, time will tell I guess.
Cheers
