Australian DoD press release
The project has experienced delays in delivery of both the vessels and the associated support system with schedule delays first emerging in 2021.
The vessels are being built for the Royal Australian Navy to replace and improve upon the capability delivered by the Armidale-class patrol boats.
The OPVs are under construction at Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia and the Henderson Maritime Precinct in Western Australia.
The primary role of the OPV will be to undertake constabulary missions and the vessels will perform maritime patrol and response duties for the Australian Defence Force.
Defence and Luerssen Australia will work together to develop a remediation plan to help address delays to the OPV schedule.
Defence and Luerssen Australia remain committed to providing the Royal Australian Navy with this capability.
The Projects of Concern process brings senior stakeholders from Government and industry together to set out an agreed pathway to remediate listed projects.
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Naval News comments: About Arfafura-class OPV program
Australia is procuring 12 Arafura class Offshore Patrol Vessels through Project SEA1180 Phase 1 to replace its fleet of Armidale class patrol boats with larger, more capable, vessels. In 2017 Luerssen Australia was selected as prime contractor for the project with the first two ships to be built in Adelaide, South Australia, and the remaining 10 to be built in Perth, Western Australia.
While the first vessel was originally planned to enter service in 2022, the program has encountered delays. The first ship was only launched in December 2021 and commissioning of NUSHIP Arafura is now not scheduled until 2024. Notably, NUSHIP Arafura was launched without a main gun after Defence cancelled a contract with Leonardo Australia to provide a bespoke 40mm main gun for the class, citing “technical certification concerns”. In the interim, Defence plans to field 25mm Bushmaster cannons taken from decommissioned Arimdale class vessels.
As of October 2023, nearly two years after launch NUSHIP Arafura not yet commenced sea trials and it remains unclear when it will do so, with some elements in Defence seeing it as ill-equipped for the circumstances facing Australia. In an effort to address these concerns, Naval News understands, the RAN is examining options for up-arming the vessels.
In May 2020, before NUSHIP Arafura was launched, the Australian Government announced that it had awarded Austal a contract for six Evolved Cape Class Patrol Boats in a bid to “reduce the risk” of the transition from Armidale to Arafura. In 2022 an additional two Evolved Cape Class boats were ordered, bringing the total to eight.
