Australia launches 4th Evolved Cape-class patrol boat

 

The 4th Evolved Cape-class patrol boat for Royal Australian Navy. Photo c/o Austal.

Australian shipbuilder Austal has launched the 4th Evolved Cape-class patrol boat for the Royal Australian Navy.

The boat which would be named ADV Cape Capricorn (814) once in service, was  launched at Austal’s Henderson shipyard in Western Australia

The completion of the 4th Evolved Cape-class patrol boat was reached after around 12 months of construction period, and just 3 months after the launch of the 3rd boat of its class.

Austal has so far delivered 2 Evolved Cape-class patrol boats to the Royal Australian Navy since May 2020, with 2 more expected to join soon and 4 more in different stages of construction as part of two separate contracts signed back in May 2020 and in 2022.

The Evolved Cape-class patrol boats are 58 meters long and can accommodate up to 32 personnel, with improved quality of life systems and advanced sustainment intelligence systems compared to previous designs.

The class, together with the larger Arufara-class offshore patrol vessel, will be replacing the RAN’s fleet of Armidale-class patrol boats and will be used for border and fisheries protection, maritime law enforcement, and maritime defense missions.




[1] Austal @ Twitter
[2] Navy Recognition