Australia awards contract for six new evolved Cape-class patrol boats


A CGI of the new Cape-class patrol boats for the RAN. Photo c/o Austal.


The Australian Department of Defence (DOD) announced that it has awarded a contract to design and build six new Cape-class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

The project, worth A$350 million (US$225 million), will be led by Australian shipbuilder Austal. The shipbuilder itself confirmed on 1 May 2020 that it received a A$324 million contract for the designing and building six (6) new patrol boats that will be based on an improved version of the existing Cape-class patrol boats currently in service with the RAN and the Australian Border Force (ABF).


It is said to be the largest contract Austal received from the Australian government in its 30-year history.

Construction is to take place at Austal's Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia, and delivery for all six ships is scheduled to take place between September 2021 and mid-2023.


The RAN currently operates two leased Cape-class patrol boats, complementing its existing fleet of Armidale-class patrol boats that have encountered availability issues after one of the ships of class was prematurely decommissioned due to a fire accident.

It still remains to be seen if the RAN will continue operating the two leased Cape-class patrol boats, or return them to Austal once the new patrol boats are in service.

According to Austal, the new evolved Cape-class patrol boats will have larger crew capacity and improved crew provisions. It is also expected to improve on performance and efficiency based on Austal's experience in building two similar ships for the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard.

Proposals have been made by Austal to replace the Armidale-class with the new Cape-class ships. Originally the larger Arufara-class offshore patrol vessels currently under construction were supposed to replace the RAN's Armidale-class patrol boats, but this new patrol boat program goes in line with previous proposals made by Austal to replace the Armidale-class with the new Cape-class ships instead for inshore patrols.



[1] Austal
[2] Jane's Defence Weekly
Australia awards contract for six new evolved Cape-class patrol boats Australia awards contract for six new evolved Cape-class patrol boats Reviewed by Asia Pacific Defense Journal on May 03, 2020 Rating: 5

No comments