
Austal secures $136M contract for additional patrol boats
Austal (ASX:ASB) has secured a $136 million contract extension to construct two additional Evolved Cape-class patrol boats for the Australian Border Force.
The latest agreement expands the Border Force’s total fleet of these advanced vessels to six, following closely on the heels of the March delivery of the tenth patrol boat, ADV Cape Hawke, to the Royal Australian Navy.
Austal CEO Paddy Gregg highlighted the project as a vital component of the nation’s maritime capability, noting that the company has delivered ten of these vessels in just over five years.
The new order further bolsters Austal’s substantial $17.7 billion order book, which includes major commitments such as eighteen medium and eight heavy landing craft for the Australian Army under the strategic shipbuilding agreement.
Beyond domestic shores, the company’s diverse portfolio includes critical components for the United States Navy, such as aircraft carrier elevators and submarine modules.
These combined international and local programmes contribute an estimated $500 million to $700 million annually to the firm's revenue.
Expressing gratitude to the Commonwealth for its ongoing trust, Gregg emphasised that the project would support hundreds of supply chain partners within the Henderson Defence Precinct and throughout Australia.
At the time of reporting, Austal's share price was $4.12.