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The Australian government has approved a AU$3 billion project to build two ''Canberra'' class large amphibious ships for the Royal Australian Navy . These ships will have air support, amphibious assault, transport and command centre roles, and are planned to replace in turn HMAS ''Tobruk'' and one of the RAN's two current ''Kanimbla'' Class vessels. PROGRAM OVERVIEW The Australian government's requirements include the capacity to transport up to 1,000 troops and 150 vehicles, including the new M1A1 Abrams tank in service with the Australian Army , have six helicopter spots on a full length flight deck for a mix of both transport and battlefield support helicopters, and a fully equipped hospital. On January 20 2006 , it was announced that the two ships would be named ''Canberra'' and ''Adelaide'' .'' Next Generation of Naval Ships to Reflect a Rich History of Service ''. Australian Minister for Defence media release. 20 January 2006. In August ''. 27 May 2006. The Navantia design was larger, at approximately 27,000 tonnes gross displacement, but the first unit for the Spanish Navy had only just started construction, making it an unknown quantity in terms of capability. By contrast, the French design was smaller, at approximately 24,000 tonnes, but had entered service with the French Navy . In June 2007, the Australian Minister for Defence announced that Tenix Defence was the preferred tenderer for the construction of the two large amphibious landing ships at a cost of $3 billion. {Link without Title} The ships are due to enter service from 2013. Tenix had proposed to build the Navantia design in partnership with the Spanish company. The Australian Government stated that around 25 percent of the value of the project would involve work in Australia. This would be largely limited to construction of the superstructures of the two ships in Tenix's shipyard in Williamstown, Victoria, with some systems work done in South Australia. Consolidation of the two ships and systems integration would occur in Williamstown. To allow work to be done at Williamstown, financial support has been provided by the State Government Of Victoria "to prepare the Williamstown shipyard to participate in future projects such as AWD module construction and the large amphibious ships project. The Government is also supporting a skills training program for these projects." {Link without Title} INDICATIVE SPECIFICATIONS The ''Canberra'' class ships will be the largest warships ever operated by the Royal Australian Navy and will displace up to 7,000 tonnes more than the RAN's last aircraft carrier, '' 13 July 2004. Each of the ships will be able to carry an infantry Battalion . The ''Canberra'' class's armament has not yet been selected. Comparative statistics Source: Borgu (2004) A Capability of First Resort? page 6. Aviation capability ]] The ''Canberra'' class ships will provide the Australian Defence Force with greatly increased Naval Aviation capabilities, with each ship carrying up to 16 Army and Navy helicopters. These aircraft will include Army and Navy MRH-90 transport helicopters, Army Tiger helicopter gunships and Navy S-70B Seahawk anti-submarine helicopters. The ''Canberra'' class will primarily operate as Amphibious Assault Ships . While the tender released for the ''Canberra'' class did not specify that the ships needed to be capable of operating Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade recommended that the Australian government should consider purchasing a small number of F-35B Lightning II for the Fleet Air Arm to operate from the ''Canberra'' class ships.Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade (2004) Australia's Maritime Strategy . Page 95. This recommendation appears to have been rejected by the Royal Australian Navy and there has been "no consideration" given to using the ships to operate fixed-wing aircraft.Borgu (2004) A Capability of First Resort? page 11. in RAN colours]] The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade's recommendation was made on the grounds that STOVL aircraft would provide deployed Australian forces with air defence and close air support. Despite the slight reduction in range and payload of STOVL F-35B compared to CTOL F-35A (and C) aircraft, they are inherently flexible in terms of operation, and can provide organic close air support right at the edge of the Field of Battle Area, which land based aircraft cannot do. An order of F-35Bs for the Canberra-class could form part of the planned order of up to 100 F-35s for the Royal Australian Air Force . The Navantia design has a Ski-jump included in its initial design, and is designed to operate and sustain a mixed jet and helicopter carrier air group of up to 36 aircraft for the Spanish Navy. NOTES EXTERNAL LINKS
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