Overview
- BAE Systems Australia laid the keel of NUSHIP Hunter on 24 August 2026, a ceremonial and practical milestone that begins joining major hull blocks at the Osborne shipyard.
- The Hunter programme has been cut from nine ships to six and is reported to be about A$15 billion over its original budget after years of delay, with the first ship still targeted for delivery in 2032.
- Australia’s Hunter is a modified Type 26 design fitted with the US Aegis combat system and an Australian CEA radar, increasing displacement to roughly 10,500 tonnes from the Type 26 baseline.
- Defence analysts warn the heavier ship could lose range, endurance and speed if it keeps the Type 26 propulsion, a concern disputed by ministers who say the added sensors and systems boost combat capability.
- The build is central to a government push for continuous domestic naval shipbuilding and jobs, with BAE saying work began with a first steel cut in June 2024 and more than 60 percent of Hunter in fabrication by June 2026.