RTX1KYGS
IN PHOTO: (L-R) Russian navy corvette Steregushchy, destroyer Nastoichivy and frigate Admiral Gorshkov are anchored in a bay of the Russian fleet base in Baltiysk in Kaliningrad region, Russia, July 19, 2015. Kaliningrad is one of the Russian cities, which will host the 2018 World Cup. Picture taken July 19, 2015. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott told 891 ABC Adelaide on Tuesday morning that the government is planning to build a frigate, which will begin in 2020, thereby enhancing job opportunities for the Adelaide youth. He also said that up to 2,500 shipbuilding jobs will come up to secure the livelihood of the people for “all the time.” This new fleet of Navy ships will entail an expenditure of around AU$39 billion.

PM Abbott’s cabinet is on a three-day visit to Adelaide where rate of unemployment is highest in the country. Local polling indicated that the Federal Liberal Party is out of favour in the South Australian region because of the rate of unemployment there. But the new announcement that came from the PM has arisen a new hope amongst the people of Adelaide.

The government committed to constructing eight frigates in its 2009 Defence White Paper (DWP) in addition to a fleet of 12 novel submarines to replace Collins Class fleet. A frigate is smaller than Air Warfare Destroyer or AWD in size, which is to be designed with complete focus on “submarine detection and response” operations. It will be a gradual substitution to the ships belonging to ANZAC Class.

Along with frigates, contracts involving Offshore Combatant Vessels, or OCV or “corvettes,” will also be presented in 2018. Mr Abbott said that competitive evaluation of the process will be made from October, with Japan, Germany and France bidding for the contract. The government stated that in DWP, eight frigates would be required to replace ships of ANZAC class and they will be maintained and upgraded on a continuous basis until they are replaced.

Chief Executive of Defence Teaming Centre Chris Burns was concerned about the submarine-building in the region. “Well we hope the announcement isn’t just a one-ship project in isolation.” He added, “What we need in Australia is a national shipbuilding plan that encompasses Navy and non-Navy requirements and to demonstrate that we can build not only good major surface warships, we can build submarines and other ships as well.”

Contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au, or let us know what you think below.

RELATED STORIES