No clear leader in frigates

Press, 27 April 1989, Page 10

No clear leader in frigates

By

DAVE WILSON

More than three months detailed evaluation of tenders for the Anzac frigates project has ended with no front-runner between the two ship designs on offer. The two Australian-based consortia offering German and Dutch frigate designs are refining their initial quotes in preparation for making a “best and final offer” on prices, a process expected to be completed by the end of May. New Zealand is considering buying four ships from the 12-frigate programme, with the total project price estimated to be more than sAusts billion. Commodore Peter Mitchell, the Anzac frigates project director based in Canberra, said the German

Meko and Dutch Type M frigates were regarded as “design neutral” at this stage. “I would be very hard pressed to say we could make a recommendation on which design based on today’s knowledge. There is no front-runner between the two.” The New Zealand and Australian navies are also emphasising a neutral stance toward the competing ship designs. Commodore Somerford Teagle, soon to be New Zealand’s Chief of Naval Staff, said either design was acceptable. “I don’t give a damn what the maker’s label says, as long as it works,” he said. After the “best and final offer” phase, recommendations for a specific design will be made to

relevant defence committees in Australia and New Zealand in the hope that a construction contract will be signed in August. Commodore Teagle said that the ship price had to be the main consideration in the successful design. “It would take an awful lot of industry input to overturn the best price.” Although the Anzac project envisages New Zealand buying four frigates at a cost of about $2 billion, the question of a lease-only arrangement has been raised.

The Australian Minister of Defence, Mr Beazley, said Australia was happy to consider that alternative although the terms of any lease might also determine the level of New Zealand industry involvement.