Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates 2.0

I got the Ghosts mixed up my excuse is old age heh heh

seaspear said:

I got the Ghosts mixed up my excuse is old age heh heh

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I'm running a hobby shop at retirement age. I have the same problem! Ha ha

There have been some reports that the US is not progressing their version of LOCSV as fast as the ADF would like so, apart from going alone on the project, another option has become available in that the German navy has announced that it is acquiring a similar capability.

I’m sure that the RAN will have a detailed look at their design to see if it meets their requirements - range being an important one.

Germany To Build Uncrewed Missile-Toting Arsenal Ships For Its Frigates

Going Boeing said:

There have been some reports that the US is not progressing their version of LOCSV as fast as the ADF would like so, apart from going alone on the project, another option has become available in that the German navy has announced that it is acquiring a similar capability.

I’m sure that the RAN will have a detailed look at their design to see if it meets their requirements - range being an important one.

Germany To Build Uncrewed Missile-Toting Arsenal Ships For Its Frigates

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Build additional GPFs, use them to train additional crews, then procure the LOCSV when they are available.

The GPFs can then cascade to constabulary, presence and MCM roles, that require crewed assets. They will still be available for escort and fleet work, it just won't be their primary role anymore.

To a certain extent, I agree with you but, as the LOCSV’s don’t require the expensive sensors as well as crew habitability space, they should be cheaper and faster to build - hopefully in large numbers to increase the capital ship’s capability & capacity.

Going Boeing said:

There have been some reports that the US is not progressing their version of LOCSV as fast as the ADF would like so, apart from going alone on the project, another option has become available in that the German navy has announced that it is acquiring a similar capability.

I’m sure that the RAN will have a detailed look at their design to see if it meets their requirements - range being an important one.

Germany To Build Uncrewed Missile-Toting Arsenal Ships For Its Frigates

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Don't the Japanese have their own under development? I know they're testing their rail gun.

Volkodav said:

Build additional GPFs, use them to train additional crews, then procure the LOCSV when they are available.

The GPFs can then cascade to constabulary, presence and MCM roles, that require crewed assets. They will still be available for escort and fleet work, it just won't be their primary role anymore.

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That's a sensible idea. Let's see if the politicians have the spine to do it seeing as how urgency is on us.

Another Evolved Cape launched(Cape Hawke), the 10th and final PB for RAN, expected to be delivered Q1 2026.
2x ECapes for ABF currently under construction, 9 more planned.

Reptilia said:

Another Evolved Cape launched(Cape Hawke), the 10th and final PB for RAN, expected to be delivered Q1 2026.
2x ECapes for ABF currently under construction, 9 more planned.

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Are these latest two Capes the hulls earmarked primarily for training duties to replace Seahorse Mercator?

ADMk2 said:

I am confident they can.

But the government very deliberately used the word “strike” in relation to these craft. Not once, but repeatedly.

Not “mine warfare”, not “maritime strike”, but “strike” and I believe they did so, so specifically because the effects of this craft extend beyond the maritime domain - as in actual munitions are launched from these things capable of striking things across domains.

What that actually looks like in reality is anyone’s guess at present, but according to Government - which is the only word we’ve had on “what they can do” they are not solely restricted to ISR, mining or even simply maritime strike...

Given this Government’s “affinity” towards “missiles” I tend to lean towards some sort of missile or perhaps a loitering munition of some type being launched from them. Again, how and what are completely unknown…

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That could well be the case, but I’d bet what they define as ‘strike’ just means the ability to hard kill submarines. Usually when you hear the term ‘strike’ you immediately think TLAM and that’s way out of Ghost Shark’s depth. The proposed torpedo payloads from Anduril aren’t particularly special, inferior to MU90/Mk54 which gives more credence that they operate essentially as CAPTOR/Hammerhead mines relying even more so on proximity and surprise, but with the added capability to slowly redeploy itself and do other tasks as well

Note the “optionally crewed” part. That means that they need accomodation for crews, admittedly not large ones, when the option is exercised. Which, quite frankly - and certainly in peacetime - is going to be most of the time.

UNCLOS has certain requirements of ocean going vessels, which these are. That includes two navigational radar systems, so they will certainly have those. And if they do, you might as well make them competent.

They will need self defence systems so that the first time they transit the Malacca Straits pirates, or possibly just a third party, doesn’t just collect them. And, if they are armed at all there are certain requirements to make sure you don’t have weapons or ammunition, for example, stolen.

Finally, having done that, and potentially loading them with expensive missiles or expensive electronics - and considering them a pretty important part of you task group - you really don’t want them taken out by the first passing dumb bomb, or to become just an easy bar on some submarine’s Jolly Roger. So you probably would at least some active and passive defence systems.

All that adds up to quite a complex - and expensive - asset.

It will be interesting to see how the concept develops.

Not to be outdone, BAE Systems UK have theorized their own take on the ‘Pineapple’ mast.