Australia's Government Announces Plans for Largest Navy Buildup Since World War II

Australia is significantly expanding its naval capabilities by increasing its fleet of major surface combatant ships from the current 11 to a planned total of 26. This expansion includes the construction of six Hunter class frigates, 11 general-purpose frigates, and six state-of-the-art surface warships. Some of these new vessels will be armed with Tomahawk missiles capable of long-range strikes on targets deep inside enemy territory. The Australian Chief of Navy, Vice Adm. Mark Hammond, has stated that the current fleet is not sufficient for the strategic environment. This naval buildup comes amid growing tensions between US-led allies and authoritarian governments, specifically China and Russia, in the Indo-Pacific region.