
The first Arafura-class OPV seen here, conducting sea trials in August 2024. (Luerssen Australia via Australia Department of Defence)
Australia's Department of Defence (DoD) has taken delivery of the country's first Arafura-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV), the department disclosed in a statement on 30 January.
The vessel, which will be in service as HMAS Arafura once commissioned, will undergo further test and evaluation ahead of its delivery to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the department added.
Arafura is the first vessel delivered under Project Sea 1180, which seeks to equip the RAN with a fleet of six OPVs. It was built by Luerssen Australia at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia.
A second vessel has also been built at Osborne while the remaining four vessels are under construction at Henderson in Western Australia.
“The Arafura-class vessels will be part of a wider navy minor war vessel fleet supporting civil maritime security and enhanced regional engagement in the Southwest Pacific and maritime Southeast Asia,” the DoD statement read.
The class has a standard displacement of 1,640 tonnes, an overall length of 80 m, an overall beam of 13 m, and a hull draught of 4 m. It can accommodate a crew complement of 40, and it is built with a flight deck at its stern.
Arafura will sail to its homeport at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia, before commissioning into the RAN in the latter part of 2025, the DoD said in its statement.
For more information, please see Arafura (PV 80) class (PSOH) .
Looking to read the full article?
Gain unlimited access to Janes news and more...