Austal Australia has begun conducting sea trials of the first of six Evolved Cape-class patrol boats ordered by the Royal Australian Navy.
Austal said it is scheduled to deliver this first vessel in the first quarter of 2022 while the remaining five Evolved Cape-class boats are in various stages of construction at the company's shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia.
Like the baseline Cape-class boats, the Evolved Capes are being built as aluminium monohull vessels. Modifications will include a 10-person increase in crew capacity and enhanced quality-of-life provisions.
