Pacific Patrol Boat bids received
Australia has received bids from five contenders for its programme to build and donate patrol boats to 13 neighbouring South Pacific countries.
Under the $436 million (AU$594 million) Pacific Maritime Security Programme, also known as Project SEA 3036 Phase 1, Australia will build up to 21 steel-hulled patrol boats to replace 22 Pacific-class craft built from 1985-97. Life sustainment and personnel costs for the programme over the next 30 years are estimated at $990 million.
The new 40m optionally armed craft will be used primarily for maritime surveillance, fisheries protection and securing extensive exclusive economic zones. They will
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
Five years on: where could opportunities emerge next for AUKUS Pillar II?
Payload commonality, combat systems and electronic warfare are emerging as likely priorities as the trilateral partnership balances building submarines with sharing industrial ecosystems.
-
From the Baltic to the Gulf: where USV procurement is heading next
Saildrone’s new Copenhagen base is one sign of a larger shift, as navies globally turn to uncrewed vessels for surveillance and mine clearance.
-
Quantum sensing gathers pace as navies eye undersea advantage
As AI dominates defence conversations, industry increasingly points to quantum sensing as the technology set to change submarine and uncrewed underwater vehicle operations.