NUSHIP

Arafura

Australia’s current Armidale Class and Cape Class patrol boats are planned to be replaced with a single class of Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), under Project SEA 1180 Phase 1, to be built in Australia by German shipbuilder, Lürssen's subsidiary, Luerssen Australia partnering with ASC OPV Shipbuilder for construction of the first two OPVs in South Australia and Civmec Construction for the remaining ten in Western Australia.

The twelve Australian vessels are based on the PV80 design with the first two vessels to be built at ASC's Osborne ship yard in South Australia before production moves to Civmec's Henderson ship yard in Western Australia.

On 15 November 2018, the Chief of Navy, VADM Mike Noonan, announced that the OPV will be known as the Arafura Class with construction commencing at the Osborne ship yard.

The primary role of the OPV will be to undertake constabulary missions, maritime patrol and response duties. State of the art sensors as well as command and communication systems will allow the OPVs to operate alongside Australian Border Force vessels, other Australian Defence Force units and other regional partners.

The OPV design will support specialist mission packages, such as a maritime tactical unmanned aerial system, and into the future, rapid environmental assessment and deployable mine counter measure capabilities.

The lead vessel, HMAS Arafura is planned to enter service in 2022.

Royal Australian Navy sailors inspect a model of an Arafura Class offshore patrol vessel at Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide.

Chief Petty Officer Marine Technician Mark Verhoeven (left), Leading Seaman Electronics Technician Jimmy Savage (centre) and Lieutenant Commander Jonathon Robarts (right) with NUSHIP Arafura at the Osborne Naval Shipyard.