BAE faces complicated arrangements for Hunter frigates
BAE Systems should sign contracts to begin Australia’s Sea 5000 Hunter-class frigate programme within the next couple of months. It is also expected to buy ASC Shipbuilding that will construct the frigates.
Nigel Stewart, Sea 5000 programme manager at BAE Systems, told Shephard that two contracts will be ‘signed concurrently’ to cover the purchase of ASC Shipbuilding as ‘the legal entity that enters into the Hunter contract’, plus the head contract will be ‘the framework for the whole nine ships with terms for the whole 30-year duration’.
Stewart said the shipbuilding part of ASC has to be formally separated
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Funding for the future US Navy Trump-class battleship sparks controversy in Congress]()
Funding for the future US Navy Trump-class battleship sparks controversy in Congress
Lawmakers question the US Navy’s proposed $2 billion investment in the Trump-class battleship as concerns over cost, technology maturity and operational relevance fuel growing bipartisan scrutiny on Capitol Hill.
-
![UK’s Type 31 frigate balances cost pressure with long-term export ambition]()
UK’s Type 31 frigate balances cost pressure with long-term export ambition
The UK shipbuilder’s full-year results to the end of March revealed the impact of the £140 million charge linked to design changes and rework on the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigate programme.
-
![Eurosatory 2026: Schiebel’s frigate-first strategy indicates a shift in UAV competition]()
Eurosatory 2026: Schiebel’s frigate-first strategy indicates a shift in UAV competition
Schiebel is pursuing opportunities in the UK and France while leveraging its integration with Naval Group’s FDI frigate programme to create new naval business across Europe.
