IN fact, the planned expenditure on naval programs set out in the 2016 Defence White Paper represents the largest regeneration of the RAN since WWII. The bulk of spending over a period extending well beyond the 10-year purview of the White Paper will be devoted to Sea 1000 and the design and construction of 12 regionally superior, conventionally-powered submarines to replace the six-strong Collins class fleet. The magnitude of this undertaking -an estimated $50 billion on construction and fit-out and $100 billion on through-life sustainment - justifies separate consideration (see page 88 for more on this). But years before any steel is cut for the Future Submarine, Comparative Evaluation Processes (CEPs) are already underway for nine new frigates to replace the eight Anzac class ships (Sea 5000) and 12 Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) to replace the current fleet of 13 Armi-dale-class patrol boats (Sea 1180), while a contract was signed in March with Spanish shipbuilder Navantia under Sea 1654 Phase 3 for two urgently-required replenishment ships.
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