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The Royal Australian Navy commissioned the first Arafura-class Offshore Patrol Vessel, HMAS Arafura, into its fleet on 28 June, 2025. The commissioning comes more than three years after the vessel was launched.
Australian ministry of defence press release
Today marks a major milestone of the Australian Government’s implementation of the Surface Fleet Review with the commissioning of HMAS Arafura into the Royal Australian Navy fleet.
HMAS Arafura is the first Arafura class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) of the Navy’s surface fleet.
HMAS Arafura will enter into the fleet at a commissioning ceremony in Western Australia today.
Navy’s OPVs will help patrol and secure Australia’s maritime border alongside the evolved Cape class patrol boats. They will also play a role in humanitarian and disaster relief, enhance regional engagement and support other Navy missions.
These new capabilities have a greater range of 4,000 nautical miles, and can perform roles that previously required numerous vessels. These OPVs will also have improved living quarters and amenities to better support personnel.
The Government’s Independent Analysis into Navy’s Surface Combatant Fleet (Surface Fleet Review) reaffirmed the need for the Arafura class OPVs whilst recommending they operate alongside the evolved Cape class patrol boats.
HMAS Arafura was built by German shipbuilder Luerssen Australia at the Osborne Shipyard in South Australia.
The second OPV, NUSHIP Eyre, has been built and is awaiting acceptance by Navy. The remainder of the four ships are under construction at the Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia.
Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles, said:
“The commissioning of HMAS Arafura marks an important milestone in the implementation of the Government’s Surface Fleet Review.
“HMAS Arafura means that the Navy can continue to ensure the safety and security of our maritime borders.
“The commissioning of HMAS Arafura is a turning point, and we will continue to see the Navy introduce new vessels into its fleet.”
Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Pat Conroy said:
“The delivery of these offshore patrol vessels is an excellent example of our partnership with defence industry in action.
“The Australian Government has worked collaboratively with Defence and Luerssen Australia to successfully deliver HMAS Arafura, with another ship on the way and four more under construction at Henderson.
“The construction of the remaining four ships is on track, and continues the Australian Government’s investment in a productive, continuous naval shipbuilding and sustainment industry.”
Minister for Defence Personnel, the Hon Matt Keogh said::
“HMAS Arafura delivers on our plan for Australian workers to build vessels for the fleet faster than Australia has for decades, to ensure the Navy has what it needs to secure our national interests at sea.
“Arafura also provides improved living quarters and amenities to support our highly skilled naval personnel as they patrol and protect our coastline.”
“My best wishes go to the crew of the Arafura as they take on this new challenge, and may they have fair winds and following seas. My thanks also go to their families, whose support enables our personnel to do what they do each and every day for our nation.”
Chief of Navy, VADM Mark Hammond said:
“A strong Australia relies on a strong Navy, one that is equipped to conduct diplomacy in our region, deter potential adversaries, and defend our national interests when called.
“The Arafura class offshore patrol vessels will perform a number of roles, including regional engagement, patrol duties, and employment of uncrewed systems in a variety of missions.”
Naval News comments:
When Arafura was launched in December 2021 at the Osborne Naval Shipyard, it was intended to be the first of 12 ships armed with 40mm main guns. They were destined to replace the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) fleet of smaller Armidale and Cape class patrol boats in their entirety. Instead, as NUSHIP Arafura finally approaches entry into service, it is armed with a 25mm cannon and is one of only six vessels.
Those six ships, rather than making up the RAN’s patrol force, will instead constitute less than half of the Navy’s patrol force going forward. In their place, Austal-built Evolved Cape class patrol boats, which were originally set to provide only an interim capability between the Armidale and Arafura classes, have been commissioned into the RAN and ordered by the Australian Border Force.
Delays in the program has disappointed the RAN and Defence, who have been forced to once-again assign frigates to border patrol work, and industry alike. Indeed, the company’s experience with the Arafura class program appears to have so soured Luerssen Australia that its parent company, NVL Group, has announced plans to divest from the country. In June 2025 Civmec announced a deal with NVL Group which will see the latter’s stake in Luerssen Australia sold to Civmec.
What caused the program, which appeared simple in nature, to experience such delays and issues is the subject of intense debate in Australia. While the exact causes of the problems may never be known, the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) has derived lessons learned from the process that bode poorly for Australia’s Sea 3000 project:
“Inadequate timeframe to conduct procurement can diminish the opportunity for due diligence during tender evaluations. Providing sufficient time for due diligence is crucial to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of the procurement process,” the ANAO concluded in its annual report on Defence procurement.
“The use of reference ship designs from other navies provided reassurance in the procurement process but it remains crucial to thoroughly understand the intended capabilities and requirements, and ensure alignment with project objectives,” it further stated.
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