Finnish RHIBs for Australian OPVs
Finland's Boomeranger Boats has received a contract from the Australian Department of Defence to supply Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) for the SEA 1180 Phase 1 Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) programme.
The company will deliver two davit launched 8.5 metre Fast Rescue Boats and one 10.5 metre ramp-launched Special Operations Boat for each of the Royal Australian Navy’s Arafura class OPVs – 41 RHIBs in total.
The RHIBs have inboard engines, and will be capable of undertaking a range of missions including maritime patrol and response.
Both of the RHIB models are existing designs from earlier projects delivered by Boomeranger. The 10.5 metre sea boat is an enhanced variant of the ramp-launched RHIB of the original Luerssen OPV delivered to the Royal Brunei Navy.
The RHIBs will be delivered over a period of ten years. The first delivery will arrive to support acceptance of the first OPV in 2021.
More from Naval Warfare
-
US Navy takes delivery of New Jersey SSN
The USN’s Virginia-class SSNs are replacing the old Los Angeles-class SSNs. The Virginia-class SSNs are fitted with the latest sensors and weapons and around 48 submarines are planned, with a total of 38 currently ordered.
-
BMT and DNV partner to meet Australia’s heavy landing craft requirement
Under Project Land 8710 Phase 2, Australia has been seeking to acquire an undisclosed number of Littoral Manoeuvre Vessels to replace the Balikpapan-class. The programme has an estimated value of AU$1.4 billion (US$910 million), with IOC slated for 2032.
-
Babcock to take over upkeep of Royal Navy Type-23 frigates
The Royal Navy’s Type-23 Duke-class frigates for the UK Royal Navy were designed as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ships but now have a multi-role function. Of the 16 Type 23s built, 12 remain in service with the Royal Navy and will be replaced by the Type-26 frigates before 2035.
-
Austal completes autonomy trials with former Royal Australian Navy patrol boat
The work took place under the Patrol Boat Autonomy Trial (PBAT), which has been a collaboration between Austal, Greenroom Robotics, the Trusted Autonomous Systems Defence Cooperative Research Centre and the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Warfare Innovation Navy Branch.
-
Singapore launches fourth and final Type 218SG submarine
The era of southeast Asian submarine modernisation has been in full swing fuelled by growing tensions in the South China Sea.