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Australia's Naval Power Grows as NUSHIP Eyre begins sea trials for strategic patrol operations.


According to information published by WarshipCam on January 28, 2025, the Royal Australian Navy's second Arafura-class offshore patrol vessel, NUSHIP Eyre (OPV 204), has officially commenced its builder’s sea trials off the coast of Adelaide.
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Royal Australian Navy's Arafura-class offshore patrol vessel NUSHIP Eyre. (Picture source: Luersen Australia)


This milestone follows its launch on November 22, 2023, at the Osborne Naval Shipyard, where it underwent extensive outfitting and systems integration before taking to the sea for evaluation.

As part of the Arafura-class offshore patrol vessel program, NUSHIP Eyre was built to replace the aging Armidale-class patrol boats, providing the Royal Australian Navy with a more capable and versatile platform for border security, law enforcement, and regional security operations. The Arafura-class vessels are based on the Lürssen OPV80 design, a well-proven model optimized for Australian operational requirements.

The start of sea trials involves extensive testing of all critical systems, including propulsion, navigation, communications, and weapons systems, ensuring the vessel meets the Royal Australian Navy’s performance and safety standards. These trials will assess its maneuverability, endurance, and seaworthiness under real-world operational conditions. Engineers and naval experts will monitor the ship’s response to different scenarios, including high-speed maneuvers, emergency stops, and weapons trials. The tests will also evaluate the vessel's modular mission capabilities.

The Arafura-class program was initially intended to deliver twelve offshore patrol vessels, but a strategic defense review led to a reduction in the number of ships to six. Despite this adjustment, the class remains a key element of the Royal Australian Navy’s modernization plans, strengthening its ability to conduct long-range patrols and enforce maritime security in Australia's extensive exclusive economic zone.

With a displacement of approximately 1,640 tonnes and an overall length of 80 meters, the Arafura-class OPVs are significantly larger and more capable than the vessels they replace. They are designed to operate with a core crew of 40 but can accommodate up to 60 personnel when needed for specialized missions.

The design allows for extended endurance at sea, with a range of approximately 4,000 nautical miles and the ability to operate independently for extended periods. Equipped with a 25mm main gun and additional machine guns, the ships are primarily focused on patrol and enforcement operations but can be adapted for a variety of mission profiles, including disaster relief and intelligence gathering.


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