Anzac

The Anzac-class frigates are a series of ten multi-role warships built for the Royal Australian Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy, based on the German MEKO 200 design. These frigates are designed for anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare, and have undergone significant upgrades.

Developed in the late 1980s under the joint ANZAC Ship Project, these frigates were conceived to replace aging British-designed warships and bolster local naval shipbuilding industries in Australia and New Zealand. The lead ship, HMAS Anzac, officially entered service with the Royal Australian Navy in May 1996. Throughout their service, the vessels saw active deployment in East Timor, anti-piracy operations in the Persian Gulf, and notably provided naval gunfire support during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. While they have served as the backbone of Australia's surface fleet for nearly three decades, the class began phased decommissioning in 2024 to make way for the incoming Hunter-class frigates.