The Australian Department of Defence is expanding its maritime capability with two additional Guardian-class patrol boats from Austal Australia under a deal estimated at $26 million.
Austal has already delivered 30 patrol boats, which are 39.5-meter steel-hull vessels made in Henderson, Western Australia, with the help of local supply chain partners. Of the 30 vessels delivered to Australia, 19 went to Pacific Island nations under the Pacific Maritime Security Program.
In addition to delivering the Guardian-class patrol boats, the contractor is also providing in-service support to the governments of Australia and the 12 Pacific Island states through its service center in Cairns.
Paddy Gregg, CEO of Austal, said the company is honored to continue supporting the Australian government with the new orders, adding that the additional patrol boats will extend production and support operations in Western Australia and Queensland.
Austal won the original contract for the patrol boats in 2016, which has been expanded to include additional orders that increased the contract’s estimated value to $266 million.