Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Timor-Leste Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri, have announced that Timor Leste would take two of Austal’s Guardian Class Pacific Patrol Boats (PPB), increasing the total number of boats being built under Project Sea 3036 to 21.
“The PPB program is intended to aid regional security in the South Pacific by helping to secure the Timor Leste maritime border and represents an example of defence diplomacy fostering close relations between countries in the Asia-Pacific,” Austal CEO David Singleton said.
“The first of the current order of Guardian Class patrol boats is already well into its construction phase and is running on time and on budget. Handover of the first vessel is projected to be in the third quarter of CY 2018.”
The PPB contract was awarded to Austal in May, 2016 and is worth $305m for the original 19 vessels and associated in service support.