The Australian government will spend $86 million in a contract with Austal Australia to purchase another two Evolved Cape-class patrol boats. The new procurement will bring Canberra’s order for the Australian Border Force, or ABF, patrol fleet to 12 Evolved Capes, Austal said Monday.
Eight patrol boats were initially built and delivered between 2012 and 2020. Two other vessels, ordered in February and valued at $103 million, are under construction at Austal’s Henderson shipyard in Western Australia.
Austal Australia designed and built the patrol boats as 58-meter aluminum monohull vessels, each with amenities capable of accommodating a 32-person Royal Australian Navy crew. The company noted that the design of the patrol boats’ life support and intelligence systems features updates for enhanced capabilities at sea.
Maritime Surveillance Asset
RAN and ABF deploy the patrol boats in a wide variety of constabulary and naval missions for Australia’s national security, particularly in the deterrence of human trafficking.
According to Austal CEO Paddy Gregg, the two new orders will be a boost to Operation Sovereign Borders of RAN’s Maritime Border Command. “These additional vessels … will further enhance the capability for maritime surveillance and border patrols throughout northern Australia,” he said.
Canberra has also tapped Austal Australia to supply RAN with 24 steel-hulled Guardian-class patrol boats, with 22 vessels delivered since 2018 and an additional two boats ordered in June for $26 million.