Australia has completed a major maritime assistance program after Austal handed over the last Guardian-class patrol vessel to the Maldives. The delivery of the 24th boat concludes the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project, a program launched by Canberra in 2016 to help partner nations improve maritime security, fisheries enforcement, and coastal patrol capabilities. The handover ceremony was conducted at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia with representatives from Australia and the Maldives in attendance. The Maldives is now the 14th nation to receive a Guardian-class platform. These vessels were designed using operational lessons from the Royal Australian Navy’s Armidale, Bay, and Cape-class patrol boats, blending endurance, practicality, and patrol effectiveness. The Guardian-class measures 40 meters in length with an 8-meter beam and accommodation for up to 20 crew members. Standard armament on many vessels includes a remotely operated 20mm gun and 12.7mm machine guns. Propulsion comes from two diesel engines rated at 2,100 horsepower each, enabling a range of approximately 3,500 nautical miles and top speeds near 37 km/h. The completion of the project reinforces Australia’s strategic outreach in the Indian Ocean and Pacific while enhancing the Maldives’ ability to patrol territorial waters and protect maritime interests.
