Austal Secures A$136M Contract for Two More Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats

Contract Extension Boosts Austal's Patrol Boat Fleet

Austal Limited (ASX:ASB) has secured a contract extension worth approximately A$136 million to build two additional Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats for the Australian Border Force (ABF). This latest award raises the total number of ECCPBs contracted for the ABF to six, underscoring sustained government confidence in Austal’s delivery capabilities and the platform’s operational performance.

The new vessels, designated Hulls 1105 and 1106, will be constructed at Austal’s Henderson shipyard in Western Australia, supported by a national supply chain and integrated project teams from the Department of Defence and ABF. The Evolved Cape-class design features expanded accommodation for up to 32 personnel, advanced sustainment technologies, and enhanced quality-of-life systems to maximise operational availability for border protection, fisheries enforcement, and national security missions.

Order Book Expansion and Industry Significance

This extension builds on Austal’s recent delivery of the tenth Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boat, ADV Cape Hawke, to the Royal Australian Navy in March 2026. With construction well underway on the first four vessels for the ABF, the addition of these two boats further strengthens Austal’s record order book, which now exceeds A$17.7 billion. This includes other significant projects such as eighteen Landing Craft Medium and eight Landing Craft Heavy vessels for the Australian Army under the Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement.

CEO Paddy Gregg highlighted the project as a "highly successful and critical element of Australia’s continuous naval shipbuilding and sustainment enterprise," contributing an estimated A$500–700 million annually through various domestic and US defence programs. This contract extension follows a previous A$135 million award for two ECCPBs in December 2025, reflecting ongoing demand for Austal’s patrol boat platforms and reinforcing the company’s role in Australia’s sovereign shipbuilding industry.

Sustained Support and Regional Defence Presence

Austal continues to provide in-service support for both Cape-class and Evolved Cape-class fleets through facilities in Henderson, Cairns, and Darwin. The company also advances the Guardian-class Patrol Boat program, having handed over 23 of 24 vessels under the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project. These programs collectively enhance Australia’s maritime security capabilities and regional presence.

The contract extension for the ABF patrol boats comes amid Austal’s broader operational challenges, including a recent qualified audit opinion related to US defence contract revenue, which the company has addressed by confirming compliance with accounting standards and ongoing negotiations with the US Department of Defense. Despite these complexities, Austal’s core shipbuilding activities remain robust, supported by a diverse portfolio of defence contracts and a growing order book.

With the Australian government continuing to invest in maritime security and sovereign defence manufacturing, Austal’s expanded patrol boat contract signals a steady pipeline of work and a strategic focus on enhancing national and regional maritime capabilities.