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Video: Lürssen OPV80 Selected for Royal Australian Navy SEA1180

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Naval Industry News - Australia
 
 
 
Video: Lürssen OPV80 Selected for Royal Australian Navy SEA1180
 
Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced on November 24th that fleet of 12 new offshore patrol vessels (OPV) will be built by German ship designer Lürssen as prime contractor, to replace the current Armidale Class patrol boats.
     
Lurssen OPV80 Royal Australian Navy SEA1180Lürssen picture of OPV80 (here Darussalam class)
     
ASC Shipbuilding in Adelaide will start building the first two OPVs by the end of 2018. Austal and Civmec will then build the ten remaining ships (subject to the conclusion of commercial negotiations). The first ship is due to enter service in 2021.

Lürssen OPV80 design will be adapted to Australian requirements. It will be 80 metres in length with a displacement of 1700 tonnes and a draught of 4 metres. The vessels will be fitted with a 40mm gun for self-protection, three 8.4m sea boats, state of the art sensors as well as command and communication systems. This will allow the OPVs to operate alongside Australian Border Force vessels, other Australian Defence Force units and our regional partners.
     
Lürssen video
     
The vessels will accommodate up to 60 personnel, including a crew of around 40 Navy personnel and have the ability to accept modular mission packs such as unmanned aerial systems.

At the launch the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, said the Lürssen ship will meet the Navy’s needs.

“The new OPV will go further and will be able to be at for sea longer than our current Patrol Boat fleet," Vice Admiral Barrett said.

"It will achieve the task that we have already been doing successfully, even better.

“The decision has been made with the team we acknowledged today and our role is to now deliver on the decision. Now let’s get on with it.”