The there was an almost decade gap between the order of the ANZACs and the Armidales, had the Armidales been steel hulled corvettes, OPVs or even just C57m steel hulled patrol boats, built at Tenix Williamstown (before it was BAE) the RAN would have had a more durable and capable platform and Tenix would have been able to retain their experienced and capable work force. This in turn would have prevented the subsequent issues with the keel blocks for the AWDs and removed one of the major causes of the current schedule slip and cost over runs.
Take it a step further and award the AWD build to Tenix as a follow on to the ANZACs and then the Fremantle PB replacements then their experienced and competent, proven management team and work force would have delivered the project on time and probably under budget permitting the order of a fourth ship.
Yes Austal probably moves off shore earlier but in exchange the RAN gets a more capable and durable patrol vessel which saves money through life but also just as importantly, the Tenix avoids the ship building black hole of the mid 2000s that was the cause of most of the problems with the AWD and LHD projects.
Take it a step further and award the AWD build to Tenix as a follow on to the ANZACs and then the Fremantle PB replacements then their experienced and competent, proven management team and work force would have delivered the project on time and probably under budget permitting the order of a fourth ship.
Yes Austal probably moves off shore earlier but in exchange the RAN gets a more capable and durable patrol vessel which saves money through life but also just as importantly, the Tenix avoids the ship building black hole of the mid 2000s that was the cause of most of the problems with the AWD and LHD projects.