Hunter-class frigate

	Artist's impression of the BAE Systems Type 26 frigate.
Class overview
Builders	BAE Systems Australia, Osborne Naval Shipyard
Operators	Royal Australian Navy
Preceded by	Anzac class frigate
Cost	A$46 billion (2020) for 9 units out-turned (est.); A$6.2 billion (2023) acquisition budget for first 3 ships;
Built	From 2024
In service	From 2032
Planned	6 (from 9)
Building	1
Cancelled	3
General characteristics
Type	Heavy frigate
Displacement	8,167 t (8,038 long tons) Stability Lightship; 8,800 t (8,700 long tons) full load displacement;
Length	151.4 m (496 ft 9 in)
Beam	21.4 m (70 ft 3 in)
Propulsion	CODLOG configuration; 1 × Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine; 4 × MTU Type 20V 4000 M53B high-speed diesel generators; 2 × electric motors;
Speed	27+ knots
Range	7,000 nmi (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) in electric motor drive
Boats & landing; craft carried	1 x 9.5m RHIB in starboard boat bay
Complement	180 personnel, with accommodation for 208
Sensors &; processing systems	Command & Control:; Aegis combat system; Saab 9LV tactical interface; Surveillance & Weapon Sensors:; CEA Technologies CEAFAR2 phased array radar; CEAFAR-L L-band long range surveillance radar ; CEAFAR-S S-band multi-function radar; CEAMOUNT fire control illuminator; Chess Dynamics SeaEagle FCEO electro-optical system; Underwater Warfare Systems; Ultra S2150 hull-mounted sonar; Thales Sonar 2087 towed array and variable depth sonar;
Electronic warfare; & decoys	Electronic Warfare; RESM and CESM; 3 x MASS Omnitrap passive IR and RF decoy launchers; 4 x quad Nulka active RF decoy launchers; Anti-torpedo; Surface Ship Torpedo Defence;
Armament	Missiles:; 32-cell Mk41 VLS firing:; RIM-66 Standard 2; RIM-162 ESSM; BGM-109 Tomahawk; 2 x 4-canister Naval Strike Missile launchers; Torpedoes:; 2 x twin torpedo launchers firing MU90 Impact torpedoes; Guns:; 1 × 5"/62 caliber Mark 45 mod 4 main gun (127 mm); 2 × 30mm Mk44 Bushmaster II Typhoon Mk-30C RWS; 2 × 20mm Phalanx CIWS;
Aircraft carried	1 × MH-60R ‘Romeo’ Seahawk armed with:; 2 × Mk 54 MAKO Torpedo; 4 × AGM-114 Hellfire;
Aviation facilities	Large Chinook capable flight deck; Enclosed hangar; Facilities for UAVs;
Notes	Flexible Mission Bay:; Rolls-Royce Mission Bay Handling System; 2nd helicopter (MH-60R); 4 x 11m RHIB; 10 x 20 foot containers; UAVs and UUVs;

The Hunter-class frigate is an under construction class of six heavy frigates for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

The genesis of the Future Frigate Program came in 2009, when the Rudd government’s Defence White Paper signalled Australia’s intent to "acquire a fleet of eight new Future Frigates, which will be larger than the Anzac-class vessels" with a focus on anti-submarine warfare. With an initial tender expected in 2019–20, in 2014 the Abbott government announced that work had been brought forward, funding a preliminary design study focused on integrating a CEAFAR radar and Saab combat system on the hull of the Hobart-class destroyer.

Following a report by the RAND Corporation into options for Australia's naval shipbuilding industry, the government announced an $89 billion naval shipbuilding plan. This plan brought the schedule of the Future Frigate Program forward by three years and announced a "continuous onshore build program to commence in 2020" in South Australia. A competitive evaluation process was announced in April 2016, and a request for tender was released in March 2017 to three contenders: Navantia, Fincantieri, and BAE Systems as part of a competitive evaluation process. The program is expected to cost AU$35 billion.

In June 2018, the BAE Systems Type 26 frigate was selected as the winner.

In June 2024, construction began at the Osborne Naval Shipyard and the first delivery is expected in 2032.