Austal to construct two additional Evolved Cape-class patrol boats for ABF

May 5, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

Austal Ships Pty has been awarded a contract extension for the construction of two additional Evolved Cape-class patrol boats (ECCPBs) for the Australian Border Force (ABF).

This latest award, valued at approximately A$150.3 million, brings the total number of ECCPBs contracted for delivery to the ABF to six. The award follows the recent delivery of the tenth Evolved Cape-class patrol boat to the Royal Australian Navy, ADV Cape Hawke, in March 2026.

Austal delivers tenth evolved Cape-class patrol boat to Australia

Vessels

“Austal has delivered ten Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats to the Royal Australian Navy in just over five years, and construction is well advanced on the first four vessels for the Australian Border Force. These additional two vessels further strengthen our record order-book of more than A$17.7 billion, which includes eighteen Landing Craft Medium and eight Landing Craft Heavy vessels to be delivered to the Australian Army, under the Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement with the Commonwealth of Australia,” Paddy Gregg, Austal Limited CEO, said.

“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,” he added.

Austal delivered eight of the original Cape-class patrol boats to the Australian Border Force between 2012 and 2015. These were followed by additional vessels delivered to the Royal Australian Navy in 2017 and the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard in 2021.

Since 2020, the Commonwealth of Australia has ordered fourteen Evolved Cape-class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Border Force.

The addition of these fifteenth and sixteenth vessels reflects continued confidence in the platform’s performance, Austal’s delivery capability, and the strength of Australia’s sovereign shipbuilding industry, according to Austal.

The new patrol boat design features expanded accommodation for up to 32 personnel, enhanced quality-of-life systems, and advanced sustainment technologies to maximise operational availability. The vessels are designed to support a wide range of missions, including border protection, fisheries enforcement, and national security operations.

Construction of the two new patrol boats will take place at Austal’s Henderson shipyard in Western Australia.