Navantia's ALFA 3000 frigate at IODS 2024 in Australia

Spanish builder Navantia showed its Alfa 3000 frigate-design for the Australian general purpose frigate-requirement (GP-F) known also as Tier 2 combatant at the Indian Ocean Defence & Security Conference 2024 in Perth, Western Australia.

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The model and information available in Perth represent a fusion of the Tasman-class corvette previously shown at Indopac 2023 with characteristics of the “baseline” Avante 2200 corvette as previously delivered to the Royal Saudi Naval Forces.

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[bsimm]

We can't forget that this is a Tier 2 requirement procured using a minimum viable capability approach. This means less emphasis on gold plating the design and greater emphasis on getting vessels into operation as soon and as efficiently as possible.

This is where Alpha 3000 has a strong hand because of Navantia's existing footprint in Australia and its commonality with other RAN vessels such as the Hobart Class, as much as 80% the video says. This means much of the industrial capability and supply chains would already be existing in country if this option is chosen greatly reducing the complexity of the project.


Alpha 3000 also has the advantage of being more compact with a simpler propulsion system which is likely better suited to maintenance operations in Northern Australia where the bulk of these vessels will be based.

The vessel will also slot into the Tier 2 role without problem whereas some of the other options appear to be growing beyond Tier 2 such as "Upgraded" Mogami which is now 142m LOA or only 5m shorter than Tier 1 Hobart. It now also matches Hunter's 32 VLS as does Ocean 4300. This looks like another case of design creep/gold plating not suitable for the tier 2 concept.

This is one time I hope Australia and the RAN builds on what they have already established rather than throwing it all out to start again.

[miguelnovovillasuso]

I am shocked by the high number of Military Naval Engineers and Chief Admirals commenting. And, of course, the marketing boys from some shipbuilders.

[anthonywarwick]

From logistical view point having commonality with Hobart class means it’s maintenance will be cost saving. However a Meko based design could leverage maintenance of our current ANZAC fleet. People rattle on here about Mogami but for Australia there isn’t any commonality or existing infrastructure familiar with its design. As a tier 2 does it need more VLS cells? It would be desirable for sure. One wishes we had just kept building more hulls based on the Hobart class with modifications and we wouldn’t be having this discussion or gap in capabilities

[andrewwarcup]

And they say the Hunter class has too few VLS. Once all fired has to return to port to reload.

[stevethomas]

New Morgami with 32 VLS looks to be a better option, or the meko 300 better fire power.16 VLS is not enough for high intensity warfare

[juanmontull]

What I don't understand is why Navantia chose this ship, because both Avante 2200 and 3000 were design as Corvettes or big OPVs such as Spanish BAM class and the Saudi Al-Jubail class.
I think it would have been better to have presented the F110 and this Avante 3000 as a Corvette.
Greetings from Spain btw😅✌

[jamesfilsell]

Stick with the Mogami ! Not enough VLS

[タコの王]

Next version Mogami, 32cell vls, huge well deck for, rib, usv anti sea mine warfare, xluuv anti submarine warfare and can also deploy sea mines…..why would you waste money on the alpha 3000

[Isaac]

Ship is too small for blue water operations. The Saudis have these ships for coastal defence and not for operations in the South China Sea and Pacific. Australia should look elsewhere or at larger vessels like the F110 frigate.

[watermirror]

Seems Alfa3000 is 2nd best choice for Aussie if weight is a nonissue. If weight is an issue, upsizing a proven platform is low risk by maintaining design proportions, if not, then FFM remains the best choice. Belharra and Fremm are also apt but wondering if they'll be included in the choices

[qtdcanada]

Good looking but dated design with limited future upgrade potential. It is also likely a bit small for the RAN's Indo-Pacific operating theatre. I am not a naval architect, but could see a possible/probable top-weight problem with this design. The phased-array radar looks massive & heavy compared with the hull. Would there be a mismatch given the capability of the radar with the small number of SAM VLS? Mounting the 2 triple Light-Weight ASW Torpedo Tubes above the hangar is interesting; but is it the result of not having enough space in the hull for them?

[ysemeniuk]

this guy answered every question without actually answering it xD
felt like myself back in school

[janthony]

the ship is underarmed, my thoughts are to just pick the upgraded Mogami class from Japan

[MrTallpoppy]

We will be mad not to take this design and continue our relationship with Navantia. It is what we need and will be much lower risk than a new supplier. Just make sure the mid-ships RWS is a Typhon Mk30C to increase its air defence capability.

[Harldin]

Forget it, didn't make the cut off, its Germany V Japan.

[arakami]

Is the choice of fixed-array radars really the best choice for a low-cost frigate? What is its instrumented range? How does it compare overall to say, the 400km-range NS200?

I suspect we've gone for fixed arrays as we do not have the CAMM, which pairs favourably with rotating arrays.

[shaunlabang]

The Tasman Class model had 4 quadruple ashm launchers 🤔

[stuka]

Hopefully its better than the Hobart class...which is just an underpowered destroyer but actually a large frigate lool

[SyafieHanifah]

Based on the design & 'armament package', Tasmanian class corvette (3, 600 tonne) proposed by Navantia Australia 🇦🇺 on 2023 is much more better than Alfa-3000 (Navantia Spain 🇪🇦)

I would say Tasman class corvette is 'mini frigate' & suit to patrol & to protect Asia Pacific maritime.

* Regards from Malaysia 🇲🇾

[anthonywarwick]

You know what. That ship may be okay for a country like Saudi Arabia who are unlikely to have to operate in blue water oceans but not for an island nation like Australia. Tier 2 or whatever Tier, the surface assets have to be as well armed and defended as possible and 16 VLS doesn’t cut it against a top tier adversary like the PLAN a who has a much larger navy with modern frigates (e.g. type 054 frigate) sporting 32 VLS and other weapons, and Type 055 Destroyers sporting 24 VLS a surface to air missile launchers and 112 VLS for anti ship missiles. We need as many silos as you can afford and fit and not just one CIWS or equivalent.