PNG receives first Guardian-class patrol boat
The Australian Department of Defence has handed over the first Guardian-class patrol boat, HMPNGS Ted Diro, to Papua New Guinea (PNG) under Australia's Pacific Maritime Security programme.
This is the first of four new boats to be gifted to PNG as part of the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement project, and the first of 21 Guardian-class patrol boats that will be gifted to 12 Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste.
The 39.5m steel-hulled Guardian-class patrol boats are being built by Austal in Western Australia under a project worth over $350 million.
Christopher Pyne, Australia’s Minister for Defence, said: ‘The Ted Diro handover marks the start of the maritime element of the Morrison government’s commitment to the new Pacific Maritime Security programme. The new vessels replace the current Pacific patrol boats, operated by 12 participating nations, and will provide each nation with enhanced abilities to conduct maritime surveillance and law enforcement operations.’
The next vessel will be gifted to Tuvalu in April 2019, and the last will go to Timor-Leste in October 2023.
More from Naval Warfare
-
Australia’s A$12 billion Perth shipyard upgrade offers positive sign for AUKUS
While the Australian government insists the investment is predominantly aimed at strengthening the country’s defence capabilities, the upgrade also bodes well for the AUKUS pact which Australia’s defence minister said “is going well”.
-
DSEI 2025: Red Cat expands into USV production with focus on combat-proven technology
At DSEI 2025, Red Cat outlines its expansion from UAVs into uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), positioning itself as a multi-domain defence provider spanning land, sea, and air.
-
Anduril Australia wins A$1.7 billion Ghost Shark XL-AUV contract
The vessels are expected to deliver a major boost to Australia’s undersea warfare capabilities, with production set to start immediately.
-
Royal Canadian Navy will start operating class 2 UAVs in 2028
Acquired under Canada’s Department of National Defence ISTAR UAS project, the drones will be deployed from the Halifax-class frigates.
-
US Navy prepares next step of the F-35 Block 4 upgrade while GAO predicts acquisition delays
The US Navy published a pre-solicitation notice of intent for the third phase of the F-35 Reprogramming Verification & Validation System. Meanwhile, with a five-year delay in its schedule, GAO foresees more postponements in the completion of the Block 4 effort.