Royal Australian Navy
Naval warfare branch of the Australian Defence Force
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| 2025 | Decision expected on General Purpose Frigate Program design, with Request for Information released to 5 international shipbuilders. |
| 2024 | OPV 205 under construction at Civmec, Henderson shipyard |
| 2024 | Government plans to invest up to $5.1 billion in combat management system upgrades for Hobart-class destroyers at Osborne naval shipyard. |
| 2024 | Independent Surface Combatant Fleet Review released, confirming a substantial expansion of the Royal Australian Navy to include multiple new vessel types. |
| 2024 | Army takes over the Landing Craft Heavy project (LAND 8710 Phase 2). |
| April 2024 | The Royal Australian Navy publicly revealed the first prototype of the Ghost Shark autonomous underwater vehicle, marking a significant milestone in their autonomous maritime technology development. |
| February 2024 | Announcement made that only six Hunter-class vessels will be built, which will serve alongside three upgraded Hobart-class vessels to form the Navy's 'Tier 1' vessels. |
| 2023 | Defence Strategic Review released, signaling a major shift in the Royal Australian Navy's planned force structure. |
| November 2023 | Defence companies Austal and Birdon announced plans to build new landing craft at the Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia, aiming to replace the six Balikpapan-class heavy landing craft. |
| March 2023 | A specific three-phase plan for acquiring nuclear-powered submarines was outlined, detailing the RAN's submarine acquisition strategy. |
| March 2023 | AUKUS announces Australia will purchase three US submarines with an option for two more, and begin construction of SSN-AUKUS submarines with the UK, with the first Australian-built boat expected in the early 2040s. |
| 2022 | A RAND Corporation analysis documented the strategic context and importance of the GWEO program, highlighting Australia's efforts to enhance its domestic weapons manufacturing infrastructure. |
| November 22 2022 | OPV 204 launched, expected to be commissioned in 2025 |
| September 2022 | The Albanese government placed an order for 12+1 MH-60R helicopters, continuing the fleet modernization plan. |
| September 22 2022 | The AMC formally accepts the contact to become an inaugural Enterprise Partner for the GWEO (Guided Weapons Enterprise Opportunity). |
| August 23 2022 | AMC receives backing from MBDA, a European guided weapons joint venture involving Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo. |
| August 22 2022 | AMC enters into a strategic partnership with American defence contractor Day & Zimmermann. |
| July 2022 | During the 2022-23 financial year, the Royal Australian Navy experienced a net personnel loss of 213, with 1,141 enlisted and 1,354 personnel leaving the service. |
| May 2022 | The Morrison government announced the purchase of 12 MH-60R helicopters to replace the MRH-90 fleet, with an additional 13th helicopter to replace the one ditched in 2021. |
| 2021 | Royal Australian Navy introduced two replenishment oilers for at-sea support operations. |
| 2021 | The Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre was permanently closed due to access issues within the working naval base. |
| 2021 | The Australian Government initiated the GWEO program, contracting the Australian Missile Corporation (AMC) as an Enterprise Partner to develop Australia's domestic guided and non-guided weapons capability. |
| December 16 2021 | OPV 203 launched at ASC Shipbuilding, Osborne Naval Shipyard as part of the Offshore Patrol Vessel program |
| November 2021 | Second vessel of Maritime Operational Support Capability class commissioned. |
| November 2021 | Stalwart replaced the fleet oiler, enhancing the RAN's replenishment capabilities. |
| November 13 2021 | HMAS Stalwart, the second Supply-class replenishment ship, was commissioned at Fleet Base West. |
| October 2021 | An MH-60R Seahawk helicopter was ditched in the Philippine Sea, leading to a replacement order. |
| September 2021 | The Attack-class submarine contract is cancelled, and Australia announces plans to acquire nuclear-powered submarines through the AUKUS partnership with the US and UK. |
| April 2021 | Supply replaced the former support ship, becoming part of the Royal Australian Navy's afloat support fleet. |
| April 2021 | First vessel of Maritime Operational Support Capability class commissioned. |
| April 10 2021 | HMAS Supply, the first Supply-class replenishment ship, was commissioned at Fleet Base East. |
| 2020 | Construction of Hunter-class frigates begins in Adelaide, South Australia. |
| 2020 | The Defence Strategic Update prefaced the creation of the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise program, signaling Australia's intent to develop domestic missile manufacturing capabilities. |
| June 30 2020 | Defence Strategic Update and Force Structure Plan released, expanding potential vessel acquisition to up to 8 vessels for mine countermeasures and hydrographic survey roles. |
| May 19 2020 | HMAS Sydney (DDG 42), the third Hobart-class air warfare destroyer, was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy at Fleet Base East. |
| May 1 2020 | Government announced acquisition of six evolved patrol vessels from Austal, to be built in Henderson, Western Australia, for A$350 million. |
| 2019 | During the election campaign, Scott Morrison announced plans to construct one hydrographic survey ship and two minehunters from the mid-2020s at the Henderson Shipyard Precinct. |
| 2019 | Third Hobart-class destroyer scheduled for delivery. |
| 2018 | Second Hobart-class destroyer scheduled for delivery. |
| October 27 2018 | HMAS Brisbane (DDG 41), the second Hobart-class air warfare destroyer, was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy at Fleet Base East. |
| June 2018 | Contract awarded to BAE Systems Australia for Hunter-class frigate program, with 9 ships planned to enter service between 2027-2042. |
| June 2018 | Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced BAE Systems' design as the preferred tender for the new frigates. |
| 2017 | Royal Australian Navy commissioned three air warfare destroyers and four Cape-class patrol vessels. |
| 2017 | Two new Cape-class patrol boats were ordered by the Royal Australian Navy. |
| November 18 2017 | Keel laid for first vessel of Maritime Operational Support Capability class. |
| September 23 2017 | HMAS Hobart (DDG 39), the first Hobart-class air warfare destroyer, was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy at Fleet Base East. |
| March 2017 | Request for tender for Hunter-class frigate vessel design released to three contenders: Navantia, Fincantieri, and BAE Systems as part of a competitive evaluation process. |
| 2016 | Defence White Paper released, again maintaining the previous modest force structure for the Royal Australian Navy. |
| 2016 | The Defence White Paper revealed that HMAS Choules would serve as a strategic sealift vessel, providing capacity to transport equipment, supplies, helicopters, and soldiers into operational zones. |
| 2016 | Australia selects the Shortfin Barracuda (Attack-class) as the planned replacement for the Collins-class submarines. |
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This contents of the box above is based on material from the Wikipedia articles List of active Royal Australian Navy ships, Future of the Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre, Australian Missile Corporation & Royal Australian Navy, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.