Indonesia commissions next KCR-60M missile boats and constructs new OPVs
Indonesian is building two OPVs, and two additional missile boats were recently commissioned as well.
Austal has delivered the first of two Cape class patrol boats to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) from its shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia, the company announced on 24 April.
Cape Fourcroy is one of two 58m Cape class vessels ordered by the National Australia Bank under a $47 million contract signed in December 2015. The vessels will be leased to the RAN, which will deploy them for the protection and surveillance of Australia's EEZ and maritime borders.
David Singleton, CEO, Austal, said: 'This latest Cape class for the RAN further strengthens Austal's position as the only patrol boat designer and builder in Australia and a major world class exporter for this class of vessels. The delivery of the Cape class vessel clearly shows Austal's unrivalled ability to design and construct defence vessels on-time and on-budget.'
Eight Cape class vessels have previously been delivered to the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service by Austal between 2013 and 2015 as part of a $330 million contract awarded in August 2011.
Indonesian is building two OPVs, and two additional missile boats were recently commissioned as well.
The new missile, which incorporates land-attack capabilities, is the latest evolution of the Otomat/Teseo anti-ship weapon family and is set to replace the legacy Mk2/A version in service with the Italian Navy.
Another twist has occurred in India's tortuous pathway to obtaining six AIP-equipped submarines, as Germany seeks pole position.
The Norwegian Chief of Defence has recommended the Scandinavian country procure more submarines in a report to the government about the future shape of its armed forces.
Apart from making progress with its troubled LCS programme, the priority for Malaysia's navy right now is the next three Littoral Mission Ships.
On 6 June at Fincantieri's Muggiano shipyard, steel was cut for the Italian Navy's second U212 Near Future Submarine (NFS).