The Royal Australian Navy has commissioned its second Arafura-class offshore patrol vessel in Western Australia.
The Royal Australian Navy has commissioned its second Arafura-class offshore patrol vessel in Western Australia.
The HMAS Eyre (OPV 204) is part of a six-ship fleet program launched in 2018 to replace the military’s Armidale-class patrol boats commissioned in the early 2000s.
Construction of the remaining hulls is distributed across the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia and Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia.
Admittance into service will continue through 2029, with all platforms to deploy alongside the force’s Evolved Cape-class patrol vessels for maritime surveillance, border protection, humanitarian missions, and regional defense.
Each vessel features containerized modules, enabling flexible reconfiguration and future upgrades for various roles without requiring a complete refit.
“The commissioning of HMAS Eyre strengthens our nation’s maritime security, providing our Navy with the capability to protect Australia’s maritime approaches, contributing to stability in our region,” Chief of Royal Australian Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond stated during the ceremony.
“Offshore patrol vessels like HMAS Eyre are a force multiplier, performing a number of roles in a variety of missions. I am very much looking forward to seeing all six of these flexible ships in the hands of our capable Royal Australian Navy sailors.”
The Arafura OPV System
Australia’s Arafura vessel measures 80 meters (262 feet) in length and has a beam of 13 meters (43 feet).
It is powered by twin diesel engines that support a top speed of 22 knots (41 kilometers/25 miles per hour), a range of 4,000 nautical miles (7,408 kilometers/4,603 miles), and operability for up to 21 days.
The platform is equipped with various scouting and navigation sensors, electro-optical fire control, and machine guns.
In addition to its capacity for up to 40 people, the ship can carry multiple rigid-hull inflatable boats as well as a light unmanned aerial system.
