Defence has released the 2024 Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Plan which outlines a vision for continuous naval shipbuilding and sustainment (CNSS) over the next 30 years. It includes plans to construct or upgrade 79 vessels domestically.
"Through the most significant investment in maritime capability in Australia’s history, we will see generations of naval construction projects happen right here, with plans to construct and upgrade over 70 vessels across South Australia and Western Australia," said the Minister for Defence, Richard Marles.
According to the Government, the plan will generate and sustain 20,000 jobs over its 30 year lifespan.
“The Government’s record investment in the maritime domain will deliver a much bigger and more lethal navy and an army that’s appropriate to our strategic environment. This will make Australia safer," said the Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, Pat Conroy.
Compared to the Independent Analysis into the Navy's Surface Fleet released earlier in 2024, the plan does not include any additional vessels for either Defence or the Australian Border Force (ABF). It does, however, state that the first Arafura class Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) will be delivered to Defence in the first half of 2025.
"Defence continues to work with the ABF to mature commercial arrangements for the acquisition and sustainment of ABF Evolved Cape class patrol boats, including the development of a Memorandum of Understanding between Defence and the Department of Home Affairs," the plan states providing an update on work to secure a fleet of Evolved Cape class patrol boats for the ABF.
The next Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Plan will be released in 2026.
A copy of the 2024 Plan can be found here.