BAE Systems Lays Keel for Royal Australian Navy’s First Hunter-Class Frigate
A keel-laying ceremony marks a major assembly milestone for NUSHIP Hunter, with construction underway since June 2024. The lead ship is one of six Hunter-class frigates built in-country by BAE Systems Maritime Australia before commissioning in the early 2030s. At 151.4 m long and 20.8 m wide, it is based on the Type 26 Global Combat Ship design, with an Aegis combat management system, domestically built CEAFAR2 radar and MH-60R Seahawk integration, plus combined diesel-electric or gas propulsion capable of speeds over 27 knots and ranges of