Australia is investing 137-million Australian dollars ($85 million) to obtain two more Evolved Cape-class patrol vessels for the country’s border force.
The order increases Canberra’s Evolved Cape systems to 12, eight of which have already been delivered to the Royal Australian Navy by defense shipbuilding company Austal.
Once completed, the two new ships will be deployed for Maritime Border Command and “Operation Sovereign Borders” missions.
“These additional vessels for the Australian Border Force will further enhance the capability for maritime surveillance and border patrols throughout Northern Australia,” Austral Limited CEO Paddy Gregg commented.
“Austal previously delivered eight, original Cape-class Patrol Boats to the Australian Border Force from 2012 to 2015; it’s a testament to the vessel’s capability and our team’s shipbuilding expertise that we’re now tasked with constructing two Evolved Capes for the ABF; their first Evolved Capes, to enhance their existing capabilities for this important mission.”
Austal’s Evolved Cape System
The Evolved Cape platform has an overall length of 58 meters (190 feet) and can accommodate more than 20 people.
It is fitted with a twin 6,770-horsepower Caterpillar diesel engine for a range of 4,000 nautical miles (4,603 miles/7,408 kilometers) and a maximum speed of 25 knots (46 kilometers/29 miles per hour).
The boat is equipped with modern navigation and identification systems, a sensor and voyage data recorder, and mounted machine guns.
