It’s confusingly worded.
1Q FY26 finishes on 30 September.
Calendar 2025 finishes on 31 Dec.
Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates 2.0
- Thread starter OPSSG
- Start date
1Q FY26 finishes on 30 September.
Calendar 2025 finishes on 31 Dec.
same for delivery(confusing), Q1 FY2026 acceptance (People may think Eyre is still 5-6 months away from entering service but it’s next month)
Mmm, that document says that Pilbara is due for launching in October as well.
Austal Investor update > Detailed Australian pipeline of work
No change in timelines
24xGuardian class >by 2026(Last 2 under construction)
10xEvolved Cape class(RAN) >by 2026(Last 2 under construction)
11xEvolved Cape class(ABF) >2026-2030(2 under construction, 9 more planned)
18xLCM >2026-2032
8xLCH >2026-beyond 2035
8xGPF >2029-beyond 2035
6xLOSV >2030-beyond 2035
No change in timelines
24xGuardian class >by 2026(Last 2 under construction)
10xEvolved Cape class(RAN) >by 2026(Last 2 under construction)
11xEvolved Cape class(ABF) >2026-2030(2 under construction, 9 more planned)
18xLCM >2026-2032
8xLCH >2026-beyond 2035
8xGPF >2029-beyond 2035
6xLOSV >2030-beyond 2035
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iambuzzard
Well-Known Member
It's interesting that they've factored in the LOSVs when we don't even have any contenders listed. It's still very pie in the sky.
If it’s a 2 year drumbeat…
LCH program (1/2028-8/2042)
LOSV program (1/2032-6/2042)
GPF program (1/2036-8/2050)
So Austal will have five ship construction programs running simultaneously from 2030. Going to be busy.
I know Austal are forecasting the Border Force cape replacement to basically be an ongoing continuous build following the current two, but I haven't seen anything formal from the ABF. Have I missed something?
Ordered in December 2024, The first 2 for ABF are at the early stages of construction, I’m guessing another order will be placed late this year or early next. Although the order book looks large, Austal is just the prime. Civmec(now CDI) will get alot of work.
Maybe that's the point, give them so much work it starts to fall over and it gets shifted.
Is this how it’s going down?
Austal Henderson - Evolved Capes(RAN) > Evolved Capes(ABF) > ?
Austal Naval Base - Guardians > LCM?
Civmec - OPVs > LCH?
Mitsubishi/Austal/Civmec - Upgraded Precinct > GPF
Don’t we still need a yard that builds larger vessels?, hopefully in the east.(for the RAN and other industries)
Austal Henderson - Evolved Capes(RAN) > Evolved Capes(ABF) > ?
Austal Naval Base - Guardians > LCM?
Civmec - OPVs > LCH?
Mitsubishi/Austal/Civmec - Upgraded Precinct > GPF
Don’t we still need a yard that builds larger vessels?, hopefully in the east.(for the RAN and other industries)
iambuzzard
Well-Known Member
Or cut back or cancelled. You know politicians!
Well they are only good, structurally speaking for about fourteen to fifteen years. The AUSTAL PBS need to be replaced regularly.
If the Arafura Class are classed as OPVs,
and the smaller Capes classed as inshore PVs,do they both perform the same constabulary role for the distances required ? Surely the larger OPVs offer more capacity!
The reason I ask is I’d imagine with Australia’s massive ocean domain, long distance reach maybe limited with just six OPVs going forward.
With some projected 26 thereabouts patrol vessels shared between Navy and Border Force is there an argument that future Capes maybe better substituted with a larger open ocean vessel. An Arafura or larger such vessel.
Do we really want the majors doing constabulary work again.
OPV / IPV mix
25 /75%
33/67%
50/50%
Thoughts
Cheers S
and the smaller Capes classed as inshore PVs,do they both perform the same constabulary role for the distances required ? Surely the larger OPVs offer more capacity!
The reason I ask is I’d imagine with Australia’s massive ocean domain, long distance reach maybe limited with just six OPVs going forward.
With some projected 26 thereabouts patrol vessels shared between Navy and Border Force is there an argument that future Capes maybe better substituted with a larger open ocean vessel. An Arafura or larger such vessel.
Do we really want the majors doing constabulary work again.
OPV / IPV mix
25 /75%
33/67%
50/50%
Thoughts
Cheers S
I think that question was asked and answered by the Fed government a year or so back....unfortunately the result was 6 fewer Arafuras.
We will have 31 Capes by 2030 and 6 Arafura class.
(10 Cape class PB + 21 Evolved Cape class PB + 6 Arafura class OPVs.)
First 10 Capes will be retired by the mid 2030s.
An additional order of 15 Evolved Capes on top of the current 21(by 2037) (36 total) would see a common Pacific PB.
-24(Pacific Islands) to replace the Guardian class.
-12+6(ABF) to replace the original 10 retired Cape class.
Opens the door for a much more capable OPV program for RAN from the late 2020s.
Something like the versatile >100m Japanese OPV off the shelf could see us get a 16 OPV fleet within a decade at a decent price as they are under $70 million usd each to build In Japan.
Next-Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel program - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
Sadly that is as the outcome
Going Boeing
Well-Known Member
Some contract news has started to appear showing non indigenous systems being fitted to the Improved Mogami class, the latest being the Palfinger Stern Launch and Recovery System. As the RAN GPF’s will have minimal changes, this is the system that should be fitted to our vessels.
“PALFINGER MARINE has been named to supply the stern launch and recovery systems (Stern-LARS) for the first five vessels of the new frigates, which are scheduled to be built between 2027 and 2036. The scope of the contract includes an updated version of the proven and unique PALFINGER Slipway System technology, previously delivered for the Mogami-class, adapted to meet the demands of the new FFM design.”
PALFINGER Secures Order for Japan's New FFM Frigates - Naval News
PALFINGER MARINE Secures Repeat Order for Japan’s New
“PALFINGER MARINE has been named to supply the stern launch and recovery systems (Stern-LARS) for the first five vessels of the new frigates, which are scheduled to be built between 2027 and 2036. The scope of the contract includes an updated version of the proven and unique PALFINGER Slipway System technology, previously delivered for the Mogami-class, adapted to meet the demands of the new FFM design.”
PALFINGER Secures Order for Japan's New FFM Frigates - Naval News
PALFINGER MARINE Secures Repeat Order for Japan’s New