For the Strategic Policy Forum (March 2010), writers from government and industry provided their thoughts on the future of naval shipbuilding.

Observers who understand the complexities of amphibious warfare have wondered for some time how the ADF would approach the development of a robust and sustainable amphibious warfare capability.

The Anzac class Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) program is well underway with HMAS Perth alongside in Henderson, WA having had her two masts removed in February for the extensive upgrade program.

The choice of Electronic Warfare (EW) system for the Hobart-class AWDs was imminent as we closed for press; new EW systems will also be selected for the RAN's Anzacs and LHDs over the next couple of years.

Although somewhat dated, the operational concepts used in the development of the RFT for the JP2048 Amphibious Deployment and Sustainment (ADAS) system appear to have been a reasonable match for the capabilities being acquired.

On 18 February 2010, exactly three years and three months after she was launched, HMNZS Otago, the first of the two Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) built for the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) was handed over by BAE Systems Australia in Melbourne.

There appears to be a mood around that Australia's Future Submarines will be larger than the current 3,400 tonne Collins class.

The design stage for Project Sea 1000 is about to get under way and the Navy, DMO and DSTO are preparing for some new propulsion technology and energy storage challenges, while being careful not to lose sight of the proven lead-acid battery technology that is the mainstay of the current Collins fleet.

Shipbuilding and support facilities in Australia have clustered around a small number of key centres for the last few decades, but developments at South Australia's Techport and Western Australia's Common User Facility (CUF) have begun to challenge that paradigm.

Exercise Black Carillon transferred personnel from 'bottomed' submarine HMAS Waller to the surface in a James Fisher Submarine Rescue Vehicle.

Type 23 frigate HMS Westminster has left Devonport Royal Dockyard on time and within budget, and with increased sustainability and capability.

Austal's next-generation 102-metre trimaran has impressed during sea trials, achieving a speed of 39 knots at 90 per cent MCR with 340 tonnes deadweight.

The use of remotely operated vehicles is becoming an integral part of underwater monitoring and inspection, according to Seavision Technologies.

British firm Oxley has won a $473,000 contract from ASC Pty Ltd to provide a fully qualified LED lighting system for HMAS Collins.

Navantia has begun construction of Australia's second Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD 02) at its Ferrol yard in northern Spain.

The Austal-designed and built Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), USS Independence officially joined the US Navy at a commissioning ceremony held near Austal's Mobile, Alabama facility in January.