Austal Delivers 15th Guardian-Class Patrol Boat

The Guardian-class Patrol Boat was gifted to the Cook Islands and will be used to carry out border patrols, regional policing, search and rescue, and other operations domestically and internationally By DA Staff / 30 May 2022

Discover Leading Defense Technology Solutions

Discover cutting-edge solutions from leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Austal Delivers 15th Guardian-Class Patrol Boat
Follow DA

Austal Australia has delivered the 15th Guardian-class Patrol Boat (GCPB) to the Australian Department of Defence. The vessel, Te Kukupa II, was then gifted by the Australian Government to the Cook Islands at a certificate signing ceremony held at Austal’s shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia.

The new Guardian-class Patrol Boat replaces the original Te Kukupa, a Pacific-class Patrol Boat gifted to the Cook Islands in 1989 and recently de-commissioned, under the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project, part of the Australian Government’s Pacific Maritime Security Program.

Austal Limited Chief Executive Officer Paddy Gregg said the new vessel was the second of five Guardian-class Patrol Boats to be delivered to the Commonwealth of Australia in 2022: “We are well on track to deliver five, 40 meter Guardians this calendar year – an outstanding achievement and a great demonstration of our collective industry and team’s capability and productivity in steel shipbuilding.

“The Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project engages more than 300 suppliers from around Australia. Each one is helping to form the National Naval Shipbuilding Enterprise that is delivering sovereign capability for Australia. 

“Our warmest congratulations go to the Cook Islands Police Maritime Wing and we wish ‘fair winds and following seas’ to the Commanding Officer of Te Kukupa II, Tepaki Baxter and his crew.”

Te Kukupa II

Faster than the previous/current Pacific class patrol boats, with improved seakeeping, better amenities, and an enhanced mission capability – including an integrated RHIB stern launch and recovery system – the Guardian-class Patrol Boat provides the Cook Islands with a much-improved naval asset to carry out border patrols, regional policing, search and rescue, and many other operations domestically and internationally.

The Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project was awarded to Austal Australia in May 2016, with an additional contract option awarded in April 2018, taking the program to 21 vessels, valued at more than A$335 million. 

12 Pacific Island nations including Papua New Guinea, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Palau, Samoa, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Timor-Leste will receive the vessels through to 2023.

The Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project supports more than 200 direct jobs at Austal Australia and more than 200 indirect jobs nationally through Australian businesses contracted by Austal.

Austal Australia’s expanded service center in Cairns, incorporating a 1,200 ton (80 meter LOA) slipway and a 1,120 ton mobile boat hoist, continues to provide in-service support to the growing Guardian-class Patrol Boat fleet; with more than 100 people now employed in a variety of engineering and sustainment roles in the Far North Queensland city.

The 39.5 meter steel monohull patrol boat – designed, constructed and sustained by Austal Australia – is based on a proven design platform that has included the 38 meter Bay-class, 56 meter Armidale-class and 58 meter Cape-class patrol boats that are in service with the Australian Border Force and Royal Australian Navy.

Posted by DA Staff Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

Meltio Expands Additive Manufacturing Distribution Network in Portugal

Meltio has announced a new strategic partnership with PrimeOut to expand its presence in Portugal’s metal additive manufacturing market

May 02, 2025
New Mobile Troposcatter Technology Supports GPS Denied Operations

Spectra Group is set to unveil a mobile troposcatter solution enhancing Comtech’s COMET system, delivering high-bandwidth, satellite-independent communications in contested and GPS-denied environments

May 02, 2025
Micropol Expands Tactical Communications Capabilities with New Production Facility

Micropol Fiberoptic is expanding its tactical communications capabilities with a new high-capacity production facility strategically located along Sweden’s E6 highway in Halmstad

May 02, 2025
ALE: Secure Battery Solutions for DoD & Aerospace Systems

American Lithium Energy (ALE) is a trusted provider of secure, high-performance batteries, delivering essential power solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense and other high-demand sectors

May 02, 2025
Partnership to Enhance Networking Capabilities for Defense Platforms

Amphenol Aerospace and BotBlox have partnered to distribute and integrate compact, rugged Ethernet hardware for defense platforms, enhancing networking capabilities and accelerating product development for uncrewed and mobile systems

May 01, 2025
USMC Receives Extended Range MQ-9A Reaper® from GA-ASI

The U.S. Marine Corps has received a technologically advanced MQ-9A Reaper® UAS from GA-ASI, featuring wing-borne fuel pods and reinforced landing gear for extended 30+ hour endurance

May 01, 2025

Featured Content

Partnership to Enhance Networking Capabilities for Defense Platforms

Amphenol Aerospace and BotBlox have partnered to distribute and integrate compact, rugged Ethernet hardware for defense platforms, enhancing networking capabilities and accelerating product development for uncrewed and mobile systems

May 01, 2025
Sky Power to Showcase ISR UAV Propulsion Technology at XPONENTIAL 2025

Sky Power International will present advanced UAV propulsion technologies at XPONENTIAL 2025, highlighting powerful engines, hybrid systems, and customized solutions for ISR and civilian applications

Apr 29, 2025
Q&A with DEFCROS: Key Insights for the 2025 Expo

DEFCROS Founder Kristijan Ilovača discusses the expo’s rapid growth, international ambitions, and how the event aims to support defense and security innovators

Apr 24, 2025
Advancing Defense Capability Through Strategic Collaboration Defense Advancement works with major OEMs to foster collaboration and increase engagement with SMEs, to accelerate innovation and drive defense capabilities forward.