STS Defence to supply masts for Australia's Hunter class

Computer-generated visualisation of a Hunter-class frigate. STS Defence will supply the integrated communication masts for the warships. (BAE Systems)

Rohde & Schwarz Australia has awarded a contract to UK-based STS Defence to supply the integrated communications masts for the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's) first three Hunter-class frigates, the former announced in an 11 August media release.

The masts are a critical component of the ships' communications infrastructure, enabling secure and effective operations across a wide range of frequency bands.

Under the contract, STS Defence will deliver twin integrated main configurable communications masts, which will be installed on the three frigates that are currently under construction at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia.

The masts will support a suite of antennas for line-of-sight communications across multiple frequency bands and will include masthead steaming navigation lights. Composite isolation screens will be used to prevent interference between systems.

STS Defence is the design authority for the masts and has successfully completed scoping, risk reduction, and detailed design studies, leading to Lloyd's certification.

The design that is being supplied to the RAN is based on the main communications mast that STS Defence has provided for the UK Royal Navy's Type 26 frigates.

Australia's Hunter-class frigates are being built under the country's Project Sea 5000. The head contract for the first three frigates was signed in December 2018 with ASC Shipbuilding, now known as BAE Systems Maritime Australia, and construction officially began in June 2024.

Each warship will be equipped with the Aegis combat management system with an Australian-developed interface by Saab Australia, a CEAFAR2 phased array radar, and systems integration for the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter.