Austal has secured an order from the Australian Government for two new Guardian-class Patrol Boats, valued at approximately AUD 39 million.
These vessels, set to be built at Austal Australia’s Henderson facility in Western Australia, are scheduled for delivery by 2026, the firm said in an ASX announcement.
This order expands on the 22 Guardian-class boats previously commissioned under the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project (SEA3036-1) since 2016.
“Of the 30 vessels Austal Australia has delivered since 2018, 19 have been Guardian-class Patrol Boats for the Australian Department of Defence,” stated Paddy Gregg, chief executive officer of Austal Limited.
He continued, “These vessels were designed and constructed by our team here in Western Australia, with the support of our highly capable supply chain partners.”
Austal Australia has already delivered 19 Guardian-class Patrol Boats to 12 Pacific Island nations under the Australian Government’s Pacific Maritime Security Program.
The program aims to enhance regional maritime security capabilities, providing vital support for border patrols, policing, search and rescue missions, and other operational needs.
“We thank the Australian Government for their continued support and look forward to delivering these two additional Guardians to our Pacific Island neighbours over the coming years,” Gregg remarked.
The Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project, awarded to Austal Australia in 2016, has seen additional contract options exercised in 2018 and 2022, bringing the total contract value to approximately AUD 400 million with 24 Guardian-class Patrol Boats in production.
Austal’s service centre in Cairns, Queensland, plays a crucial role in supporting the Guardian-class fleet, employing over 100 personnel in engineering and sustainment roles.
Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including a 1,200-tonne slipway and a mobile boat hoist, the centre ensures ongoing maintenance and operational readiness of these critical naval assets.
The Guardian-class Patrol Boat design draws on Austal’s extensive experience with proven platforms such as the Bay-class, Armidale-class, and Evolved Cape-class patrol boats currently in service with the Australian Border Force and Royal Australian Navy.
