How Australia transformed a second-rate American design into a lethal naval powerhouse
In short: In the 1970s, Australian planners dismissed the American Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate as a mediocre escort. Yet, they bought it anyway. Through decades of ambitious, costly, and controversial upgrades, Australia eventually turned these ships into what the Navy claimed was the most lethal frigate fleet on the planet.
The Adelaide-class story began in 1974, when the Australian government opted for the American frigate design despite internal assessments labeling it a second-rate vessel that failed to meet local requirements. The decision was driven by the success of the Perth-class destroyers, which had outperformed British alternatives. Four ships were built in Seattle, while two final units were constructed in Australia with localized improvements, including unique sonar and enhanced corrosion protection.
By the mid-1990s, the government faced a choice: replace the aging frigates with more capable Kidd-class destroyers or invest in a massive modernization. They chose the latter, launching the FFG Upgrade Project. What began as a A$1 billion plan eventually ballooned to A$1.46 billion. The project was plagued by delays, with early refits leaving ships unable to integrate critical defense systems, rendering them vulnerable and unfit for combat zones. Critics blamed both major political parties for the mismanagement.
Despite the rocky start, the final upgrades were transformative. The ships received a new vertical launch system, updated fire control, and missiles that doubled their engagement range. By 2008, the upgraded vessels were hailed as the most capable in the Royal Australian Navy's history. The fleet served until the arrival of the Hobart-class destroyers, with the final two ships sold to Chile in 2020, marking the end of a complex chapter in Australian naval engineering.
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