Australia Completes Guardian-Class Patrol Boat Program to Secure Pacific Maritime Control.

Australia has launched the final Guardian-class Patrol Boat under its SEA3036-1 program, completing delivery of 24 vessels to Pacific partners. The milestone underscores Canberra’s strategy to counter illegal fishing and rising Chinese influence through sustained maritime security capacity building.

Australia has reached a defining milestone in its long-running Pacific maritime security strategy with the launch of the final Guardian-class Patrol Boat under the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project SEA3036-1. In January 2026, Australian shipbuilder Austal confirmed the successful launch of Hull 544, concluding a program that has quietly reshaped maritime governance across the South Pacific. More than the completion of a shipbuilding contract, the event marks the maturation of a defense initiative that blends regional capacity building, industrial transformation, and strategic competition management in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific maritime environment.
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The Guardian-class Patrol Boat is a 39.5-meter steel patrol vessel designed for long-range Pacific patrols, featuring a 20-day endurance, modern sensors, a 30 mm gun, and a stern ramp for rapid boarding and maritime security operations (Picture source: Austal).

The Guardian-class Patrol Boat is a 39.5-meter steel-hulled vessel designed specifically for sustained patrol operations in the vast exclusive economic zones of Pacific island nations. Displacing approximately 240 tons, the platform is powered by twin Caterpillar diesel engines driving fixed-pitch propellers, delivering a top speed of around 20 knots and an operational range exceeding 3,000 nautical miles at economical cruising speed. Endurance of up to 20 days enables persistent presence operations across remote maritime spaces where air and satellite coverage remain limited.

The Guardian-class emphasizes constabulary and security missions rather than high-end naval combat. Each vessel is fitted with a stabilized 30 mm cannon forward, complemented by multiple 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine gun positions, providing sufficient firepower for maritime interdiction, counter-smuggling, and fisheries enforcement. A modern navigation radar suite, integrated communications systems, and an electro-optical sensor mast support day-night surveillance and coordinated operations with regional partners and Australian forces. The stern launch ramp enables rapid deployment of rigid-hulled inflatable boats, a critical capability for boarding operations and search and rescue missions in heavy seas.

The SEA3036-1 program originated in 2014 as Australia sought to replace the aging Pacific-class patrol boats delivered to regional partners from the late 1980s. Formal contracting with Austal followed, with construction commencing in May 2017 through the cutting of the first steel plates for HMPNGS Ted Diro. The program ultimately expanded to 24 vessels, with 22 delivered to Pacific island nations and Timor-Leste, and two retained by Australia for training and support roles. While official contract values have not been fully disclosed, defense industry estimates place the program at well over AUD 300 million when accounting for sustainment, training, and infrastructure upgrades.

Australia’s investment in the Guardian-class reflects a deliberate response to intensifying great power competition in the Pacific. As China expands its diplomatic, economic, and security footprint across island states, maritime governance has emerged as a key battleground. Illegal fishing, transnational crime, and gray-zone activities directly threaten regional stability and local economies. By equipping partner nations with capable, interoperable patrol vessels, Australia reinforces a rules-based maritime order while strengthening defense relationships that extend well beyond ship delivery.

In comparison with equivalent platforms operated by Indo-Pacific navies, the Guardian-class occupies a middle ground between lightly armed coastal patrol craft and larger offshore patrol vessels. It is more capable and ocean-going than Indonesia’s older KAL-class patrol boats or the Philippines’ small coastal craft, yet significantly less complex and costly than Japan’s 1,000-ton-plus coast guard cutters or India’s offshore patrol vessels. This balance makes the Guardian-class particularly suited to nations with limited maintenance infrastructure and small naval forces, without sacrificing operational relevance.

The program also reinforced Australia’s sovereign shipbuilding base. Austal’s Henderson facility transitioned from aluminum to high-rate steel ship construction, establishing a production line that has since informed other naval projects. Company executives have emphasized that process refinement, workforce development, and supply chain resilience achieved during SEA3036-1 now form a foundation for future Australian and export programs.

As Hull 544 enters the final phases of fit-out and acceptance, the completion of the Guardian-class program closes a significant chapter in Australian naval diplomacy. More than a patrol boat, the class has become a strategic instrument, projecting stability, partnership, and maritime control across one of the world’s most contested oceanic regions.