Timor-Leste to receive two patrol boats from Australia
Australia will gift two new patrol boats to Timor-Leste under the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project, the Australian Department of Defence announced on 19 April.
The provision of the vessels was agreed between the Australian and Timorese governments in November 2017.
Minister for Defence, Marise Payne said: ‘The boats will be sovereign capabilities of Timor-Leste, with Australian advisory, maintenance, infrastructure, and other support. This enduring assistance makes this agreement a 30 year commitment to supporting Timor-Leste’s security and prosperity.
‘This package will build on our existing maritime security cooperation with Timor-Leste as part of our longstanding bilateral defence cooperation programme.’
Australia's Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project is worth over $300 million. A total of 21 Guardian-class patrol boats will built by Austal and delivered to 13 nations from late 2018. The two vessels for Timor-Leste will arrive in the second half of 2023.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
Is South Korea finally being taken seriously for Western submarine programmes?
South Korean shipbuilders are beginning to make their mark beyond Asia, competing for major North American and European submarine programmes and becoming serious contenders on a global scale.
-
AUKUS Pillar 2 could narrow focus to “four key areas” says UK official
Few concrete ideas have emerged so far on which “advanced capabilities” will be brought forward under Pillar 2 of the AUKUS partnership, but the Pentagon’s review of the programme could bring more clarity.
-
Sweden’s decision on four new warships inches closer as it eyes UK, France and Spain
Sweden decided last year that it wanted a significantly larger warship for its Luleå Class programme than originally planned, with three likely contenders that could potentially deliver within the country’s tight schedule.
-
How the use of artificial intelligence will affect the US Coast Guard’s acquisitions
The USCG is pursuing AI tools to improve the way the service conducts its procurement and fielding processes.