Anzac-class frigate

HMAS Ballarat in 2016.
Class overview
Name	Anzac
Builders	AMECON
Operators	Royal Australian Navy (RAN)  Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN)
Preceded by	River-class destroyer escort (RAN) Leander class (RNZN)
Succeeded by	Hunter class (RAN) General Purpose Frigate (RAN)
Built	1993–2006
In commission	1996–present (RAN) 1997–present (RNZN)
Planned	12
Completed	10
Cancelled	2
Active	9
Retired	1
General characteristics as designed
Type	Frigate
Displacement	3,600 t (3,500 long tons; 4,000 short tons) full load displacement
Length	109 m (358 ft) waterline length 118 m (387 ft) length overall
Beam	14.8 m (49 ft)
Draught	4.35 m (14.3 ft) at full load
Propulsion	Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG): 1 × General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbine, 30,172 hp (22,499 kW) 2 × MTU 12V1163 TB83 diesel engines, 8,840 hp (6,590 kW) each 2 × controllable-pitch propellers
Speed	27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)
Range	6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement	22 officers, 141 sailors and 16 government worker or air crew.
Sensors and processing systems	Radar: Original fit Raytheon SPS-49(V)8 ANZ aerial search and long-range surveillance Saab 9LV Combat Management System Saab Sea Giraffe Target Indication Radar for air and surface search Krupp Atlas 9600 Navigation RADAR Saab9LV 453 Ceros 200 Fire Control Radar and Continuous Wave Illuminator ASMD fit CEAFAR1-S S-band Active Phased Array Radar Kelvin Hughes Sharp Eye Navigation Radar CEAMOUNT Fire Control Illuminators Saab Systems Ceros 200 Fire Control Director Cossor AIMS Mk XII IFF Combat Data Systems Saab Systems 9LV453 Mk3E Electronic Countermeasures JEDS 3701 electronic support measures Telefunken PST-1720 comms intercept AMCAP fit[1] CEAFAR2-L L-band Active Phased Array Radar NZ Anzac Frigate Systems Upgrade[2] Thales SMART-S Mk2 S-band PESA radar Kelvin Hughes Sharp Eye Navigation Radar Furuno FAR-3320W radar Cossor AIMS Mk XII IFF Combat Data Systems Lockheed Martin Canada CMS330 Electronic Countermeasures Elbit/Elisra electronic support measures Rheinmetall MASS Offboard ECM Ultra Electronics Sea Sentor torpedo countermeasures Airborne Systems DLF floating decoy Sonar: ThomsonSintra Spherion B hull-mounted bow sonar Petrel Mine and Obstacle Avoidance Sonar system Fitted for but not with towed-array sonar Other: Cossor AIMS Mark XII identification-friend-or-foe system
Electronic warfare & decoys	Mark 36 SRBOC launchers SLQ-25A towed torpedo decoy Nulka decoy launchers Rascal Thorn modified Sceptre-A electronic support measures Telefunken PST-1720 Telegon 10 radar intercept unit
Armament	Missiles: RAN 8-cell Mark 41 Vertical Launch System firing 32 quad-packed RIM-162 ESSM 2 × 4-canister Harpoon or NSM anti-ship missiles RNZN 20-cell GWS.35 VLS firing 20 Sea Ceptor surface-to-air missiles Torpedoes: 2 × Mark 32 triple torpedo launchers RAN: MU90 Impact torpedoes RNZN: Mark 46 torpedoes Guns: RAN and RNZN 1 × 5"/54 calibre Mark 45 mod 2 main gun 2 × .50cal machine guns on Mini Typhoon mounts 6 x .50cal machine guns crew served RNZN 1 × 20mm Vulcan Phalanx close-in weapons system Fitted for but not with RAN 1 × close-in weapons system 2nd 8-cell Mark 41 VLS RNZN 2 x 4-canister anti-ship missiles
Aircraft carried	1 helicopter RAN: Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk RNZN: Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite
Notes	For upgrades and current configurations, see the sections on "Australian modifications" and "New Zealand modifications", or the individual ship articles

The Anzac class (also identified as the ANZAC class and the MEKO 200 ANZ type) is a ship class of ten frigates; eight operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and two operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). During the 1980s, the RAN began plans to replace the River-class destroyer escorts (based on the British Leander-class frigate) with a mid-capability patrol frigate and settled on the idea of modifying a proven German design for Australian conditions. Around the same time, the RNZN was seeking to replace their Leander-class frigates while maintaining blue-water capabilities. A souring of relations between New Zealand and the United States in relation to New Zealand's nuclear-free zone and the ANZUS security treaty prompted New Zealand to seek improved ties with other nations, particularly Australia. As both nations were seeking warships of similar capabilities, the decision was made in 1987 to collaborate on their acquisition. The project name (and later, the class name) is taken from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps of the First World War.

Twelve ship designs were tendered in 1986.^[3] By 1989, the project had selected a proposal by Germany's Blohm + Voss, based on their MEKO 200 design, to be built in Australia by AMECON at Williamstown, Victoria. The modular design of the frigates allowed sections to be constructed at Whangārei, New Zealand and Newcastle, New South Wales in addition to Williamstown. The RAN ordered eight ships, while the RNZN ordered two and had the option to add two more. The frigate acquisition was controversial and widely opposed in New Zealand, and as a result, the additional ships were not ordered.

In 1992, work started on the frigates; 3,600-tonne (3,500-long-ton) ships capable of a 27-knot (50 km/h; 31 mph) top speed, and a range of 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph). The armament initially consisted of a single 5-inch gun and a point-defence missile system, supported by a missile-armed helicopter. In addition, the ships were fitted for but not with a torpedo system, anti-ship missiles, and a close-in weapons system. The last ship of the class entered service in 2006; by this point, the RAN and RNZN had embarked on separate projects to improve the frigates' capabilities by fitting the additional weapons, along with updates to other systems and equipment.

Since entering service, Anzac-class frigates have made multiple deployments outside local waters, including involvement in the INTERFET multi-national deployment to East Timor, and multiple operational periods in the Persian Gulf. As of 2024^[update], nine ships are in service following HMAS Anzac's decommissioning in May 2024.^[4] The RAN intends to start replacing theirs in 2024,^[5] while the RNZN ships will remain active until the mid-2030s.