Austal Lands $136M Contract to Build Two More Border Force Patrol Boats
Austal secures $136 million contract extension for Australian Border Force patrol boats
Austal Limited has been awarded a contract extension valued at $136 million for the construction of two additional Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats (ECCPBs) for the Australian Border Force (ABF). This brings the total number of ABF ECCPBs under contract to six vessels, following the delivery of the tenth ECCPB to the Royal Australian Navy (ADV Cape Hawke) in March 2026. Construction will take place at Austal’s Henderson shipyard in Western Australia.
The contract extension demonstrates repeat order confidence from a sovereign customer and follows a five-year track record of ECCPB deliveries to the Royal Australian Navy. The vessels are designed for maritime border protection, fisheries enforcement, and national security operations.
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What are Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats?
Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats are 58-metre aluminium patrol vessels designed for maritime border protection, fisheries enforcement, and national security operations. The “Evolved” designation reflects upgraded features from the original Cape-class vessels delivered between 2012 and 2015.
Key design features include expanded accommodation for up to 32 personnel, enhanced quality-of-life systems, and advanced sustainment technologies to maximise operational availability. These upgrades make the platform suitable for extended patrols and a wider range of mission profiles.
The platform’s effectiveness has driven repeat procurement from both the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Border Force. Since 2020, the Commonwealth of Australia has ordered 14 ECCPBs for RAN and ABF, with these two additional vessels bringing the total to 16.
Austal’s order book reaches record levels
Austal’s order book now stands at more than $17.7 billion, with this contract extension contributing to an annual order book replenishment rate of approximately $500–700 million. The backlog includes diverse defence programs across Australian and US customers.
Major programs contributing to the order book include:
- Eighteen Landing Craft Medium for Australian Army
- Eight Landing Craft Heavy for Australian Army
- Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats for RAN and ABF (16 total)
- Aircraft carrier elevators for US Navy
- Submarine modules for US Navy
Paddy Gregg, Chief Executive Officer
“Contract extensions such as this, along with other construction and sustainment programs in Australia and the United States—including aircraft carrier elevators and submarine modules for the US Navy—are contributing approximately A$500–700 million annually to Austal’s order book.”
The scale and diversity of the order book provides multi-year revenue visibility across both Australian and US defence customers, reducing earnings volatility and supporting forward workforce planning.
Delivery track record supports future contract confidence
Austal’s delivery history demonstrates execution capability across multiple patrol boat programs. The company delivered eight original Cape-class vessels to ABF between 2012 and 2015, followed by additional vessels to the Royal Australian Navy in 2017 and the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard in 2021.
Since 2020, the Commonwealth has ordered 14 ECCPBs for RAN and ABF. These two additional vessels bring the total to 16. Under the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project (SEA3036-1), Austal has handed over 23 of 24 Guardian-class vessels to Pacific nations.
| Program | Customer | Vessels Delivered | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original Cape-class | ABF | 8 | Complete (2012-2015) |
| Evolved Cape-class | RAN | 10 | Complete |
| Evolved Cape-class | ABF | 0 of 6 | Under construction |
| Guardian-class | Pacific nations | 23 of 24 | Near complete |
Consistent on-time delivery across multiple patrol boat programs de-risks future contract execution and positions Austal for ongoing sovereign work. The company’s ability to deliver ten ECCPBs to the Royal Australian Navy in just over five years demonstrates manufacturing efficiency and programme management capability.
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Strategic outlook and supply chain strength
Construction takes place at Austal’s Henderson shipyard in Western Australia, supported by a national supply chain and integrated project teams from the Department of Defence and the Australian Border Force. Austal provides comprehensive in-service support for both Cape-class and Evolved Cape-class fleets through facilities in Henderson (WA), Cairns (QLD), and Darwin (NT).
Paddy Gregg, Chief Executive Officer
“We thank the Commonwealth of Australia for its continued trust in Austal and look forward to building on our strong partnerships with hundreds of supply chain partners in the Henderson Defence Precinct and across Australia to deliver these additional vessels for the Australian Border Force.”
Sovereign shipbuilding policy and long-term sustainment contracts provide recurring revenue beyond initial construction. The in-service support footprint across multiple Australian locations creates a stable revenue stream from maintenance, upgrades, and operational support services.
Austal’s position in Australian defence shipbuilding
Austal is Australia’s largest defence exporter and first ASX-listed shipbuilder. Over a 37-year track record, the company has contracted more than 350 vessels for 122 operators across 59 countries. The company operates shipyards in Australia, the United States, Philippines, and Vietnam, with service centres worldwide including the Middle East.
Beyond patrol boats, Austal delivers Littoral Combat Ships and Expeditionary Fast Transport vessels for the US Navy. The company’s dual-geography defence exposure provides diversification and access to the world’s two largest naval procurement budgets.
The Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement with the Commonwealth of Australia, which includes eighteen Landing Craft Medium and eight Landing Craft Heavy vessels for the Australian Army, underpins long-term order book visibility. This agreement reflects the Australian Government’s commitment to sovereign shipbuilding capability and provides a framework for future defence work.
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