The Arafura class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) NUSHIP Eyre has been launched at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia. NUSHIP Eyre is the second in the class of OPVs being built by Luerssen Australia, in collaboration with local defence industry partners, for the Royal Australian Navy.
The Arafura class OPVs are intended to replace the Armidale class patrol boats and have been designed to perform maritime patrol and response duties for the Australian Defence Force. Named for the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, the OPV will be the first Royal Australian Navy ship to carry the name Eyre. NUSHIP Eyre is the second of two OPVs to be constructed at the Osborne Naval Shipyard, and follows the launch of NUSHIP Arafura in December 2021. The remaining vessels will be built by Luerssen Australia at the Henderson Maritime Precinct in Western Australia.
Head Navy Capability, Rear Admiral Stephen Hughes, Royal Australian Navy, said: “On behalf of the Chief of Navy, and the sailors and officers of the Royal Australian Navy, I congratulate the defence industry workforce at Osborne on the launch of Australia’s second OPV, NUSHIP Eyre. We look forward to accepting Eyre into service and thank the many skilled shipbuilders who contribute to ensuring the RAN continues to operate capable warships of the highest quality.”
Deputy Secretary Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment, Mr Jim McDowell, said: “The launch of NUSHIP Eyre is a significant milestone for the Arafura class OPV program, made possible by the commitment and cooperation everyone here at the Osborne Naval Shipyard. We look forward to continuing to work with Luerssen Australia to deliver these Arafura vessels.”
Luerssen Australia CEO, Jens Nielsen, said the launch of the vessel is a testament to the hard work and cooperation of everyone at Osborne Naval Shipyard. “We would not be launching this ship without the commitment and passion from our production and shipbuilding teams, including the Naval Construction Branch and Navy,” Nielsen said. ”Everyone has worked tirelessly to deliver a formidable vessel to the RAN. You can be proud of your efforts.”
Photos would be good or has Marles scotched this…
Will they add some serious weaponry to survive against an uncertain future in the indo -pacific.NSM & Rim-162 Sea sparrow.Or even the 30klm version of the spike missile.Small Australian cfar radar.Or sea dome with nsm,would be good rather then sending the sailors out with a world war 2 armed ship as is.
Defence cancelled the contract for the 40mm main gun 2 years ago and are seemingly too incompetent to have organised a replacement.
Surely you jest? Our ADF?
So Arafura was put in the water 2 years ago? Is it still being fitted out? It’s not as if they have to fit any weapons to it! Progress, if any, has been kept very low key.
Not holding my breath on this project at all. Just to make it more interesting they are switching production to another shipyard?
What could possibly go wrong?
Weapons systems? What weapons systems?
Defence provide very little information about the project and they have contractually muzzled Luerssen from speaking.
Unfortunately High Ranking Naval and Defence Force Officials and Politicians will be placing the crews of these vessels in Harms way, with only a” pop gun” weapon survivability.
There is Space, weight allowances for a 76mm Oto Marlena in the newer Mount Naval Gun an for 2×2 NSM Launches.
The Class should be stopped at Hull number 4 and the Remaining Vessels either totally cancelled or be Re-Configured as the OPV 90 with Main gun, NSMs, Helo hanger an flight deck capable of carrying a MH-60R SeaHawk, 2x RHIBS ,etc etc…
Let’s see, Malaysia had 4 much more complicated OPV 80s built and commissioned in three years… Australia has two in 5 years and neither are close to being in commission and they reckon the problem lies with Luerssen. ?
The problem is not with Luerssen.
These underarmed vessels are a joke. Russia’s tiny Karakurt-class corvettes pack 8 Kalibr cruise missiles with a range of over 2,000km, 76mm main gun and the Pantsir missile/auto cannon air defence complex. They will also be equipped vyo take the new Zircon hypersonic missile in the near future. Washington’s proxy Australia is fighting yesterday’s wars.
These underarmed vessels are a joke. Russia’s tiny Karakurt-class corvettes pack 8 Kalibr cruise missiles with a range of over 2,000km, 76mm main gun and the Pantsir missile/auto cannon air defence complex. They will also be equipped to take the new Zircon hypersonic missile in the near future. Washington’s proxy Australia is fighting yesterday’s wars.
”Everyone has worked tirelessly to deliver a FORMIDABLE vessel to the RAN.”
formidable /fôr′mĭ-də-bəl, fôr-mĭd′ə-/
adjective
1.Arousing fear, dread, or alarm.
2.Inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder.
3.Difficult to undertake, surmount, or defeat.
We need to STOP asking how imbecilic can DOD get ? it’s treating the question as a challenge.
The Arafura, a Formidable Ship that will meet Australia’s Maritime requirements into the next Century. Now, let’s tinker with the design until it’s totally unable to achieve the original concept, costs twice as much and twice as long to build and when the Project is listed as a problem , Blame the Designer and /or the Builder , the former Government/ Minister or somebody/anybody else. Scrap the whole thing and start again with another Project. Luerssen isn’t the problem.The continuing story of Defence Procurement in Australia. So far we have reneged on a Submarine Deal with Japan, Broken a contract with France, completely confused the Brits (The Type 31 that was tended is nothing like what the RAN is asking for) and committed to purchasing anything the U.S. has a surplus of and wants to keep U.S. workers in jobs. Former Minister Linda Reynolds says that the DoD needs a shake up, what it needs is a complete overhaul and start again with competent people.
An increasing number of people are coming to a similar conclusion.
Australia brings Knife to a gunfight
All the enemy needs is a sonar pinger and the RAN will go home and complain it is so unfair
We don’t even sharpen the Knife beforehand!
I suspect that they are not progressing the armament for these ships until the government finally announces its surface fleet plan in early 2024. Some are suggesting that we are likely to see a new fleet of six corvettes and an expanded fleet of Cape Class boats. If this is the case then the first six OPVs are likely to be fitted out for mine warfare and oceanographic ships. In that instance no further OPVs would be built. What happens in the Frigate and Destroyer domain is anybody’s guess.
But we do form a working group to examine how we should sharpen the knife before going to tender. Then we spend another 5 years refining and defining how the knife should perform and another 5 years deciding on how the knife feels about being sharpened. Then we cancel the project in favour of an axe, the whole process begins again.
Without (proper) armament, the Navy is pointless.
Agreed a navy ship with the means of damaging the enemy and protecting this country is not a navy ship it’s a tug boat or a barge how can these bureaucrats and navy brass sit there and applaud this when it is obvious we are running out of time
Looks like yet another project that had to be “Australianised” has hit the rocks.
The RAAF’s Peregrine, due to be operational late 2023, has hit “unforeseen complications” due to extensive airframe reengineering.
These aircraft were supposed to replace the ELINT/SIGINT Orions that were retired in December 2023 but now?????
That’s interesting about Peregrine – where did you see that? Your comment is linked to the Arafura OPVs.
Australia New Zealand Defender.
Aware that it’s somewhat out of place here but it’s another example of where we contract for something and let people tinker to the point where what we get is not what we really need.