Defence has accepted the second Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), NUSHIP Eyre, ahead of delivery to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
Deputy Secretary of the Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Group, David Hanley, said the investment in the ships represents a key step in strengthening Australia’s maritime security.
“The OPVs are larger, and have a greater range and sea keeping abilities compared to their predecessor, the Armidale Class Patrol Boats,” Hanley said.
NUSHIP Eyre is the second OPV constructed at Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia under project Sea 1180-1, following first of class vessel HMAS Arafura, which commissioned into the Navy fleet in June.
“The delivery of the second OPV is a testament to our collaboration with industry, and reflects the highly-skilled, productive, continuous naval shipbuilding and sustainment industry we are establishing in Australia," Hanley stated.
With advanced communications, navigation, and surveillance systems, the Arafura Class vessels are designed to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing Indo-Pacific region, and will play an important role in achieving the long-term aims of the 2024 National Defence Strategy (NDS).
The acceptance of NUSHIP Eyre marks the end of the project’s activities in South Australia, while construction of the remaining four vessels continues at Henderson in Western Australia.
This project will deliver six Arafura Class OPVs to Navy, part of a wider Navy Minor War Vessel Fleet including the Evolved Cape Class patrol boats supporting civil maritime security and enhanced regional engagement in the Southwest Pacific and maritime Southeast Asia.
NUSHIP Eyre will soon sail to HMAS Stirling in Western Australia, before commissioning into the Navy fleet to join sister-ship HMAS Arafura.