Hairy man - Hyuga
Vonnoobie - three frigates sacrificed for three DDH / Light Carriers.
The AWDs will never deploy alone except for maybe flag showing, they, our most powerful surface combatants will always operate with other fleet or coalition / allied assets, that's how it works. Same with the new frigates, something would have to be very wrong for one of them to be operating alone, they will pretty much always be deployed with other Australian or friendly combatants.
So taking this into account, how is a fleet of three DDH, three DDG, and six FFG inferior and less flexible than one with three DDG and nine FFG? In particular when the DDH has the same combat system, sensors, and mostly the same weapons as the FFGs they are supplanting. How are they more difficult to build when they have the same systems from the same supplier's as the frigates? They are bigger but bigger is actually easier to build, in particular to outfit.
The blocks and superblocks would actually be the same size as those for a frigate, there would just be more of them. Actually, ask navantia what's quicker, easier and cheaper to build, a frigate or a carrier / LHD? Maybe ask Ingles and Kawasaki too, maybe Hyundai as well. So what if they take longer to build, it just spreads out the work more and actually helps maintain a continuous build that could be expanded to include the eventual LHD, LPD and AOR replacements.
The RAN plans to acquire Firescout type UCAVs and the ADF has requirements for additional helicopters to support special forces etc. and possibly helicopters or UAV/UCAV for the OPVs, all types that in a task force setting would be more efficiently operated and supported from a DDH / light carrier. In fact, lets assume each FFG is assigned one Romeo and one Firescout and the additional helo is assigned to the DDH, that means each of the two DDH in active service / deployed has the two Romeo's it would have had as a frigate, one from the DDH in refit or reserve and three from the frigates now operating Firescouts. Six Romeos on a DDH are far more effective than the same number dispersed through the taskforce or fleet, they are also easier and cheaper to maintain, in fact the DDH would become a force multiplier through being able to support/maintain the helicopters of the ships flights.
The three DDH, unlike the frigates the replace, would also be able to operate AEW, SAR (or CSAR) and MCM helicopters, when not if these capabilities are acquired. Tilt rotors will not be an issue either and should the ADF acquire F-35B, guess what? There is also the army's ARH force, be it upgraded Tigers or something else, they will be certified for operation from the LHDs so logically also the DDH but somehow can't imagine them being dispersed onto frigates and AWDs.
The DDH would also have superior situational awareness to the frigates the supplant as they would logically have the same combat system and sensors but they would be mounted higher and hence have a greater horizon. They would also have larger command spaces and more data coming in from their greater number of helicopters, UAVs and UCAVs, just imagine the picture they would have with AEW and F-35B. Then there is their ESSM and possibly even SM-6 from their MK-41 VLS, as well as CEC.
Far from a reduction in numbers they would maintain numbers and multiply capability using existing and planned ADF assets and capabilities more efficiently and effectively. Even the small increase in crew is not a problem as a significant number of them could be junior sailors and officers who are taking advantage of the training billets these ships would provide, building experience under competent supervision before going out into the fleet fully qualified and experienced in their field from their time on the DDH/CVL. The aviation side would be covered from the personnel who would normally deploy with the aircraft.
