Page 90 - Australian Defence Magazine May 2022

90 SEAPOWER PATROL BOATS
MAY 2022 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
SECURITY IN THE PACIFIC
The Commonwealth’s Pacific Maritime Security Program (PMSP), which looks to enhance defence and security cooperation between Australia and its Pacific neighbours, is key to shaping Australia’s strategic environment and responding to the growing challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
ROYA GHODSI | SYDNEY
THE program is a $2 billion commitment comprising the de- livery of new Guardian-class patrol boats, region-wide in- tegrated aerial surveillance, and enhancements to regional coordination.
Under the PMSP, Australia is delivering 21 Guardian- class patrol boats to 12 Pacific Island countries and Timor- Leste between 2018 and 2023, to replace the existing Pa- cific-class patrol boats which have been in service since the 1980s.
The Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project (Sea 3036 Phase 1) was awarded to Austal in May 2016, for the de- sign, construction and sustainment of the original 19 ves- sels, with an additional contract option awarded in April
ABOVE: Palauan Guardian-class Patrol Boat PSS President HI Remeliik II underway in Cockburn Sound, WA
2018 for two further vessels to be delivered to Timor Leste. The project is valued at more than $335 million.
The 39.5 metre steel monohull Guardian-class patrol boat was designed to meet Defence’s specific requirements based on a proven design platform that has included the 38 metre Bay-class, 56 metre Armidale-class and 58 metre Cape-class patrol boats previously developed by Austal for the Australian Border Force and Royal Australian Navy.
With a range of up to 3,000 nautical miles at 12 knots,
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