Australia names OPV class as Arafura
VADM Mike Noonan, Chief of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), announced on 15 November that the name of the navy’s new fleet of OPVs will be the Arafura class, the name emanating from the body of water that marks the northern approaches to Australia and south of New Guinea.
Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne commented: ‘Named for the Arafura Sea, the name recognises the prominence of the navy’s enduring operations in the northern approaches to Australia to protect our national interests, natural resources and maritime borders.’
The name Arafura has not been assigned to any vessel in the RAN until
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