Australia's top Defence official is visiting the United Kingdom this week to receive updates on the troubled $45 billion future frigate program and to speak to senior officials about the war in Ukraine as well as the recently announced AUKUS partnership.
The ABC can reveal Defence Department secretary Greg Moriarty will tour the Scottish shipyards of BAE Systems, the British company selected to design Australia's Hunter-class frigates that will eventually be based on the UK's new Type 26 warship.
In a visit to Glasgow, Mr Moriarty will get an up-close view of HMS Glasgow, the first Type 26 frigate under construction, which bears the name of a previous Royal Navy warship that saw action in the Falklands.
Four years ago, BAE Systems was chosen ahead of rival bids from Spain and Italy to design and produce nine high-tech, anti-submarine warfare frigates for the Royal Australian Navy.
The program has been beset by delays and technical difficulties since.
Earlier this month, defence officials confirmed to parliament that a "system-critical design review" of the Hunter-class program originally due to be finished by the end of the year was now scheduled to be completed at the end of 2024 and could be delayed further.
Defence sources say that during the visit to the UK, Mr Moriarty is expected to press BAE representatives about problems being encountered on the UK's Type 26 program and possible implications for Australia's Hunter-class project.
Discussions on Ukraine, submarines and drone program
During his UK visit, the Defence boss is expected to discuss joint efforts to back Ukraine against Russia's invasion.
Australia has already offered more than $200 million in military aid including Bushmaster vehicles.
The secretary is also scheduled to meet with representatives from other companies that could eventually be involved in the construction of Australia's future nuclear-powered submarine fleet to be acquired under the AUKUS partnership.
He is also likely to discuss the future of a controversial exchange program involving over 30 ADF personnel who operate armed British drones, an arrangement that is being reviewed after Defence cancelled plans to acquire its own version of the Reaper weapon.
The Defence secretary's overseas trip during the election campaign "caretaker" period has not yet been publicly disclosed by the government or Defence Department, which is declining to comment.
The ABC has also approached BAE Systems for comment.
