The event marks wrapping up of production for SEA 1180 at Osbourne, with production continuing at Henderson in WA.
The second new OPV of the Arafura-class for the Royal Australian Navy has commenced sea trials at the end of June 2025. NUSHIP Eyre (OPV 204) has so far completed at least two sets of trials between June 30 and July 9. Maritime photographer Trevor Powell caught the ship moving around Osbourne, where builder BAE Systems Maritime Australia finishes up work on the new vessel. RAN will take over the ship afterwards and formally commission her as HMAS Eyre.
The event signals the end of production for the Arafura class at Osbourne. Construction and delivery for the third to sixth hull is proceeding at CIVMEC, Henderson in Western Australia. CIVMEC aims for delivery of the sixth and last unit, the future HMAS Carpentaria, for 2029 at present. The sea trials also follow commissioning of the first vessel, HMAS Arafura, on June 28.
As Naval News has previously reported, procurement of Arafura experienced significant delays and revisions. The effort, dubbed SEA 1180 saw specification changes over integration issues such as the desired main gun. The current Albanese government also cut overall procurement from twelve to six vessels. Canberra now deems the design insufficient to new requirements of the Australian Navy for more robustly armed and survivable combatants.
Nevertheless the Australian Navy arguably requires more hulls for the active and ageing fleet. RAN is pushed to maintain persistent patrols across extensive Australian territorial waters and its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). In an event receiving significant local attention, the Chinese Navy (PLAN) in earlier this year conducted a circumnavigation of Australia. The operation, including a live fire-drill, illustrates a trend of increasing naval activity near Australian waters. Such events create an increasing demand for maritime awareness with both Australia and News Zealand. Additionally the primary Australian security partner, the United States, continues to place more emphasis on burden-sharing, including in the maritime domain.
Meanwhile the Australia Navy hopes to induct a new class of multirole frigates before 2030 under the SEA 3000-effort. The Albanese-government is pressing ahead on this project for up to eleven new frigates, hoping for a type selection before the end of 2025.
