Arafura-class offshore patrol vessel

First made public in Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030, the 2009 Department of Defence white paper, the planned vessels stem from Government instructions for the RAN to rationalise patrol, mine warfare, and hydrographic survey assets into a single class of warship.Department of Defence, Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century, pp. 72–3 It was originally planned 20 OCVs would replace 26 vessels across four separate ship classes: the {{sclass|Armidale|patrol boat|2}}s, the {{sclass|Huon|minehunter|2}}s, the {{sclass|Leeuwin|survey vessel|2}}s, and the {{sclass|Paluma|survey motor launch|2}}es

Instead of being capable of performing all roles simultaneously, the ships will have a modular mission payload system like the Standard Flex system used by the Danish Navy, or the system used by the United States Navy's littoral combat ships: mission-specific equipment will be fitted to containerised modules, which can be exchanged for different modules when the ship needs to change roles.Thornton, The Rationale for the RAN Offshore Combatant Vessel, pp. 6, 8Boettger, The Offshore Combatant Vessel, p. 31 The use of containerised modules means that equipment can be upgraded without taking the ships out of service for refit, and if necessary can be fitted to requisitioned civilian vessels.Australian Offshore Combatant Vessels, p. 1 The cost in developing and implementing the modular system is predicted to be offset by the savings in the areas of maintenance (having to purchase and maintain stocks to repair four different designs), personnel (having to retrain sailors when they transfer to a new ship), and administration.

File:Benalla and Gascoyne at Darling Harbour.jpg

It was anticipated that the new ships could have displaced anywhere up to 2,000 tonnes, although defence magazine editor Kym Bergmann predicts that this 'worst case' would require 50,000 tons of steel or aluminium to be fabricated (compared to 36,000 tons for the Attack-class submarine program), and unless multiple shipbuilders are involved, the 12- to 18-month construction time per vessel will see the last ship enter service during the late 2020s.Bergmann, Buzz around all-in-one combatant vessels

Instead of building all 20 vessels to the same design, the idea of hull variants optimised for different roles is also being explored: the module system will allow a ship designed for one role to be rapidly reconfigured to serve in another role, with a small but acceptable loss in capability compared to a 'native' OPV. The OPVs could be designed to carry a helicopter or an unmanned aerial vehicle to improve each ship's surveillance range, but this avenue is dependent on further study and cost-benefit analysis.Australian Offshore Combatant Vessels, p. 2

The OPV was originally planned to replace 26 vessels across four warship classes: the {{sclass|Armidale|patrol boat|2}}s, the {{sclass|Huon|minehunter|2}}s, the {{sclass|Leeuwin|survey vessel|2}}s, and the {{sclass|Paluma|survey motor launch|2}}es.Thornton, The Rationale for the RAN Offshore Combatant Vessel, p. 6 The new ships were to be used for offshore and littoral patrol, border protection, anti-terrorism and anti-piracy operations, mine warfare, and hydrographic survey. It was plausible that the OPVs will operate in support of the {{sclass|Canberra|landing helicopter dock|2}} ships; amphibious operations would benefit from the survey and mine warfare capabilities of the ships.

Another major change, reportedly being examined by the DSR (Australia's Defence Strategic Review), is the possibility of either up-arming or divesting the service's new Arafura-class OPVs, before NUSHIP Arafura has even conducted sea trials. The concern is that the OPVs are not able to contribute to any high-end scenarios, as they lack so much as a large calibre gun. One possibility, being examined, is outfitting the vessels with between four and six Kongsberg Naval Strike Missiles, which the RAN is already procuring.

Another approach, which has gained some traction, is the possibility of divesting the fleet to other government agencies (such as the Australian Border Force) and international partners (such as Papua New Guinea), and instead procuring a fleet of missile-armed corvettes.

The Royal Navy has begun plans for a similar vessel under the Future Surface Combatant program, designated the Future Mine Countermeasures/Hydrographic/Patrol Vessel (FMHPV).Scott, UK, Australia begin talks on future ship projects At the start of 2010, it was announced that the governments of Australia and the United Kingdom were exploring the potential for idea-sharing and co-operation on the design of the OPV and FMHPV, as well as planned replacements for the {{sclass|Anzac|frigate|0}}, Type 22, and Type 23 frigates. Although the nations will share their analyses, a common design or shared construction program is unlikely, as the two nations have different needs and replacement schedules. The RAN is also observing the development of the United States Navy Littoral Combat Ships, to take advantage of lessons learned during the program.

File:US Navy 130823-N-EW716-001 USS Coronado conducts at-sea acceptance trials.jpg

While designing the {{sclass|Independence|littoral combat ship|0}} trimarans for the Littoral Combat Ship program, Australian-owned shipbuilder Austal also prepared a scaled-down version that could serve as the basis for the Australian OPV. The Austal Multi Role Vessel (MRV 80) would have an overall length of 80 metres, a top speed of 26 knots, carry an NH-90 or similar helicopter, and have 500 square metres for mission equipment or cargo.{{cite web |title=Multi Role Vessel MRV80 |publisher=Austal |year=2010 |url=http://www.austal.com/Resources/Deliveries/4a74c8d1-9ece-4ea8-8693-bcf8493e31cf/mrv-80-data-sheets-sml.pdf |access-date=18 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305162307/http://www.austal.com/Resources/Deliveries/4a74c8d1-9ece-4ea8-8693-bcf8493e31cf/mrv-80-data-sheets-sml.pdf |archive-date=5 March 2012 |df=dmy-all }}

In 2012, American shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries proposed a variant of the Legend-class National Security Cutter, a ship built for the United States Coast Guard.HII Targets RAN SEA1180 Project, in The Navy

Although the 2013 White Paper committed to the OCV as a long-term plan, it announced that an interim patrol boat class based on an existing design would be acquired as a short-term replacement for the Armidales, while the Palumas and Huons would undergo life-extension upgrades.{{cite book|author=Department of Defence |title=Defence White Paper 2013 |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |date=3 May 2013 |isbn=978-0-9874958-0-8 |oclc= |page=84}} The 20 vessels originally planned to be built was reduced was later reduced to 12 following the change in their planned role. The project received the procurement designation SEA 1180.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced on 18 April 2016 that ship designers Damen, Fassmer and Lürssen had been shortlisted for the project. On 24 November 2017, the government announced that Lürssen had been selected.

In October 2017, the Australian government announced that the vessels would use an Australian-designed SAAB tactical combat management system.{{Cite web|url=https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/minister/marise-payne/media-releases/joint-media-release-new-approach-naval-combat-systems|title=Joint Media Release – Prime Minister, Minister for Defence and Minister for Defence Industry – New Approach to Naval Combat Systems|date=3 October 2017|website=Department of Defence|access-date=3 October 2017}}

Under SEA 1905 a further two ships are to be built by Civmec for the mine countermeasures role. A third vessel may be procured under SEA 2400 to fulfill the survey role although this is unlikely.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=18 June 2020|title=Draft: Strategic infrastructure and land use plan|url=https://www.jtsi.wa.gov.au/docs/default-source/silup-2020/draft-strategic-infrastructure-and-land-use-plan-18-june-2020.pdf?sfvrsn=deef711c_2|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702033859/https://www.jtsi.wa.gov.au/docs/default-source/silup-2020/draft-strategic-infrastructure-and-land-use-plan-18-june-2020.pdf?sfvrsn=deef711c_2 |archive-date=2 July 2020 |access-date=|website=Western Australian Government}} This was expanded in the 2020 Defence Strategic Update and 2020 Force Structure Plan released on 30 June 2020 for up to 8 vessels optimised for mine countermeasures and hydrographic survey roles potentially based on the Arafura design, possibly bringing the total number of vessels back up to the original 20.{{cite web |url=https://www.defence.gov.au/StrategicUpdate-2020/docs/Factsheet_Naval_Shipbuilding.pdf |title=Factsheet: Naval Shipbuilding |publisher=Department of Defence |access-date=6 March 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://adbr.com.au/breaking-govt-outlines-expansion-of-australian-defence-firepower/ |title=Govt outlines expansion of Australian Defence Firepower |author=McLaughlin, Andrew |date=30 June 2020 |work=ADBR |access-date=6 March 2021}}

The Arafura-class is based on the Lürssen-designed Darussalam-class, operated by the Royal Brunei Navy. Each vessel has a gross displacement of 1,640 tonnes, and measures 80 metres long, with a beam of 13 metres and a draft of 4 metres. Propulsion power is from two MTU 16V diesel engines rated at 4440kW each, which drive variable pitch propellers and give a top speed of 22 knots, and shipboard electrical power is generated by MAN diesel engines. The ship's range is about {{convert|4000|nmi|km}}, with an endurance of 21 days. The standard crew complement is 40 sailors, though up to 20 more can be berthed if required. The ships will be deployed with empty space available to install container-mounted systems such as aircraft support and sensors; if fully utilized, the gross displacement could increase to 1,800 tonnes.

Shipboard armament was originally intended to be a single 40 mm gun and two 12.7 mm guns. The 40 mm gun was cancelled in 2021 due to a combination of technical problems and a re-assessment of the threats the ships would face. The ships will instead be armed with a Typhoon Weapon Station on an interim basis until a replacement weapon is identified and then acquired.{{cite news |last1=Tillett |first1=Andrew |title=Defence quietly cancels another navy contract – after denying problems |url=https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/defence-quietly-cancels-another-navy-contract-after-denying-problems-20211214-p59hcy |access-date=17 December 2021 |work=Australian Financial Review |date=14 December 2021}} In May 2023 it was reported that the RAN was considering purchasing a containerised variant of the C-Dome surface-to-air missile system to improve the Arafura-class's armament.{{cite news |last1=Felton |first1=Ben |title=Australia Considering Modular C-Dome For Arafura OPVs |url=https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/imdex-asia-2023/2023/05/australia-considering-modular-c-dome-for-arafura-opvs/ |access-date=6 August 2023 |work=Naval News |date=5 May 2023}}

Each vessel carries two 8.5 metre rigid inflatable boats and a single 10 metre boat, which are intended as the primary means of deploying offensive force in the ships' border patrol role. A single unmanned aerial vehicle is carried and deployed from an open utility deck. Two separate electro-optic targeting systems and three radars are installed and managed by the Saab 9LV system. In order to allow the ships to operate in conjunction with allied international forces, each ship is equipped with a unique electronic identifier transponder that allows for communication via the Link 16 network.

According to the Department of the Defence, while the flight deck will not land helicopters, it can carry weights of up to 11 tonnes. {{Cite web |last=Department of Defence |first=Department of Defence |date=14 February 2024 |title=ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON NOTICE |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/api/qon/downloadattachment?attachmentId=62e63296-fe84-465f-9b82-b84fd6af56b4}}

The class of ships will be based on Lürssen's OPV80, similar to the {{sclass|Darussalam|offshore patrol vessel|1}} of the Royal Brunei Navy.{{cite web|url=https://www.asc.com.au/news-media/latest-news/asc-shipbuilding-welcomes-opv-bid-partners-luerssen-and-forgacs-to-techport|title=ASC Shipbuilding welcomes OPV bid partners Lürssen and Forgacs to Techport for the first time|website=www.asc.com.au|access-date=3 April 2018}}'"Aussie Navy Renewal", Ships Monthly, March 2018, page 14 The first two vessels will be built by ASC Shipbuilding in Adelaide, South Australia before production is transferred to the shipyard of Forgacs Marine & Defence, a subsidiary of Civmec, in Henderson, Western Australia.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-24/offshore-patrol-vessel-contract-awarded-to-german-firm-luerssen/9188426 |title=Navy Offshore Patrol Vessels to be built in WA and SA by German company Luerssen |first=Frances |last=Bell |work=ABC News |date=24 November 2017 |access-date=24 November 2017}}

Construction of the first ship began on 15 November 2018. On that day, it was also announced that the vessel would be named Arafura, and the class the Arafura-class patrol vessels.{{cite web |last1=Zerbe |first1=Ryan |title=Construction begins on Arafura Class patrol vessels |url=http://news.navy.gov.au/en/Nov2018/Fleet/4934#.W-0gDOgzaUk |website=Navy Daily |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |access-date=15 November 2018 |date=15 November 2018}}

On 9 April 2020 the second ship in the class, HMAS Eyre, was laid down at ASC's shipyard. The names of the following four ships were also announced at this time: HMA Ships Pilbara, Gippsland, Illawarra and Carpentaria.{{cite web|title=Major milestone for Navy's multibillion-dollar OPV program|url=https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/maritime-antisub/5917-major-milestone-for-navy-s-multi-billion-opv-program|website=Defence Connect|date=9 April 2020 |access-date=9 April 2020}}

The first three ships amongst the then new names, HMAS Pilbara, HMAS Gippsland and HMAS Illawarra were laid down at the shipyard of Civmec in Henderson on 11 September 2020,{{cite news |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2020/09/keel-laid-for-australias-third-arafura-class-opv/ |title=Keel Laid for Australia's third Arafura-class OPV |language=en-US |publisher=Naval News |date=11 September 2020 |access-date=11 September 2020}} 30 July 2021{{cite web |url=https://www.anao.gov.au/sites/default/files/Auditor-General_Report_2021-22_13_a_0.pdf |title=2020–21 Major Projects Report |page=173 |publisher=Australian National Audit Office |date=13 December 2021 |access-date=23 March 2022}} and 27 September 2022,{{cite news |url=https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/maritime-antisub/10760-keel-laid-for-fifth-arafura-opv |title=Keel laid for fifth Arafura OPV |publisher=Defence Connect |date=27 September 2022 |access-date=27 September 2022}} respectively.

In October 2022 it was reported that NUSHIP Arafura did not meet civilian safety standards and the Albanese government was concerned that the ships were too lightly armed to meet the Navy's needs. The government was considering reducing the number of ships to be built, with those completed possibly being transferred to the Australian Border Force.{{cite news |last1=Greene |first1=Andrew |title='97 years late': Expensive problems on major defence projects concern federal government |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-09/offshore-patrol-vessels-program-delay-costs-mount/101517060 |access-date=15 April 2023 |work=ABC News |date=9 October 2022 |language=en-AU}} The delays to completing the Arafura-class ships led the project to be added to the Defence 'projects of concern' list in April 2023.{{cite news |title=Defence updates 'projects of concern' list |url=https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/key-enablers/10924-defence-updates-projects-of-concern-list |access-date=15 April 2023 |work=www.defenceconnect.com.au |date=27 October 2022 |language=en}} Arafura was launched on 16 December 2021, but due to structural fire protection design issues, did not commence sea trials until 26 August 2024.{{cite news |title=Australia Lists Arafura-class OPV as 'Project of Concern' |url=https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/indo-pacific-2023/2023/10/australia-lists-arafura-class-opv-as-project-of-concern/ |access-date=29 October 2023 |work=Naval News |date=21 October 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/nuship-arafura-begins-builders-sea-trials |title=NUSHIP Arafura begins Builders Sea Trials |work=Australian Defence Magazine |date=30 August 2024 |access-date=3 November 2024}}

NUSHIP Eyre was launched on 22 November 2023, sponsored by Natalie Charlesworth. {{cite web |last1=Felton |first1=Ben |title=Luerssen Australia Launches Second Arafura Class OPV |url=https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/indo-pacific-2023/2023/11/luerssen-australia-launches-second-arafura-class-opv/ |website=Naval News |access-date=13 December 2023 |date=23 November 2023}}

With the cancellation of the main gun and the lack of any other major weaponry, the class has been criticised for being unable to operate in medium to high-end warfighting and resulting in calls to either up-arm the class or transfer the ships to the Australian Border Force Marine Unit in favour of a fleet of corvettes.{{cite web |last1=Felton |first1=Benjamin |title=What does Australia's Strategic Review hold for the RAN? |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/12/what-does-australias-strategic-review-hold-for-the-ran/ |website=Naval News |access-date=9 January 2023 |date=20 December 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Bergmann |first1=Kym |title=Arafura class OPVs late, over budget and underequipped |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/special-reports/arafura-class-opvs-late-over-budget-and-underequipped/news-story/8fd1f97665c7f438b273a6249011e08a |website=The Australian |publisher=News Corp |access-date=9 January 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Greene |first1=Andrew |title='97 years late': Expensive problems on major defence projects concern federal government |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-09/offshore-patrol-vessels-program-delay-costs-mount/101517060 |website=ABC News |publisher=ABC |access-date=9 January 2023 |language=en-AU |date=9 October 2022}} The class has also faced criticism for schedule delays and being over budget.

Following the Defence Strategic Review 2023 and the Surface Fleet Review by the Albanese government in February 2024, the final 6 vessels were cancelled due to the vessels being deemed as an inefficient use of resources for civil maritime security operations and does not possess the survivability and self-defence systems to contribute to a surface combatant mission. Instead, further investigation will be taken to determine how these vessels can contribute to other mission sets. {{Cite web |title=ENHANCED LETHALITY SURFACE COMBATANT FLEET - INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS OF NAVY’S SURFACE COMBATANT FLEET |url=https://www.defence.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-02/Enhanced_Lethality_Surface_Combatant_Fleet_web.pdf |website=www.defence.gov.au}}

Dates in Italics indicate estimates

{{Reflist|refs=

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• {{cite news|title=Buzz around all-in-one combatant vessels |last=Bergmann |first=Kym |date=29 May 2010 |work=The Australian |page=10 in Defence supplement }}
• {{cite journal|last=Boettger |first=Daniel |date=December 2009 |title=The Offshore Combatant Vessel: Future Flexibility |journal=Headmark |publisher=Australian Naval Institute |issue=134 |pages=30–34 |issn=1833-6531}}
• {{cite book|author=Department of Defence |title=Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030 |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |date=2 May 2009 |isbn=978-0-642-29702-0 |oclc=426475923}}
• {{cite news|title=UK, Australia begin talks on future ship projects |last=Scott |first=Richard |date=22 January 2010 |work=Jane's Defence Weekly |publisher=Jane's Information Group}}
• {{cite journal|last=Thornton |first=Sean |date=January 2010 |title=The Rationale for the RAN Offshore Combatant Vessel |journal=The Navy |publisher=Navy League of Australia |volume=72 |issue=1 |pages=6–10 |issn=1322-6231}}
• {{cite journal |date=May 2010 |title=Australian Offshore Combatant Vessels |journal=Semaphore |publisher=Sea Power Centre – Australia |volume=2010 |issue=4 |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Semaphore_2010_4.pdf |access-date=13 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110320183418/http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Semaphore_2010_4.pdf |archive-date=20 March 2011 |df=dmy-all }}
• {{cite journal|date=April 2012 |title=HII Targets RAN SEA1180 Project |journal=The Navy |publisher=Navy League of Australia |volume=74 |issue=2 |page=18 |issn=1322-6231}}

• [http://www.navy.gov.au/fleet/ships-boats-craft/future/opv Arafura Class OPV on Royal Australian Navy website]

Category:Patrol vessels of the Royal Australian Navy

Category:Proposed ships