The Royal Australian Navy has officially launched its third Arafura-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV), HMAS Pilbara, from the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia, further advancing the country’s naval modernization drive. The milestone reflects Canberra’s effort to boost its coastal surveillance and maritime enforcement capabilities using locally built vessels. The Arafura-class OPVs, developed under the SEA 1180 program, are being built to replace the Armidale-class patrol boats that have served for over a decade. Each 80-metre vessel displaces about 1,640 tonnes, can reach speeds of over 20 knots, and carries a 40mm main gun alongside lighter machine guns. They are designed for long-endurance missions and can embark helicopters or drones to extend their operational reach. The HMAS Pilbara was constructed in collaboration with Lürssen Defence Australia and ASC Shipbuilding, backed by an extensive local supply chain. The project supports roughly 1,000 workers and contributes to Australia’s sovereign shipbuilding industry. The OPV program, involving 12 vessels, is central to the Continuous Naval Shipbuilding Plan, which aims to maintain a permanent domestic production line for naval platforms. Once in service, HMAS Pilbara will conduct a range of missions including maritime patrol, fisheries enforcement, border control, and humanitarian assistance. Its flexible design enables rapid reconfiguration for different operational roles, from disaster relief to regional security missions. The launch follows the earlier rollout of HMAS Arafura and HMAS Eyre, both in advanced testing stages. The Arafura-class fleet represents the future of Australia’s patrol capability, emphasizing endurance, adaptability, and cost efficiency. The launch of HMAS Pilbara also symbolizes Australia’s growing confidence in its naval shipbuilding infrastructure and its commitment to safeguarding Indo-Pacific sea lanes. As regional maritime competition intensifies, the OPV class provides the RAN with a modern, sustainable, and versatile platform to project presence, protect sovereignty, and contribute to allied operations in surrounding waters.
