Above is a video from Naval News. They have more news about the class here.

Specifications:

• Length: 80 m (262.4′)
• Beam: 13 m (42.64′)
• Draught: 4 m (13.12′)
• Speed: 20 knots (maximum)
• Range: 7,400 kilometres (4,000 nautical miles)
• Displacement: approx. 1,640 tons
• Crew: 40 crew with accommodation for up to 60 personnel
• Armament: 25mm gun / 2 x 50 calibre machine guns

This design was selected in November 2017. Since then, the buy has been reduced from 12 to six ships. There were delays and cost overruns and questions about the appropriateness of the design for Australia’s requirements.

You may note that the video tour does not include the flight deck. In fact there is no hanger and the flight deck is not intended for use by helicopters. The ships will probably get an Unmanned Air System (UAS). How the flight deck might be used for other purposes is being considered.

It does appear they have a very complete outfit of ship’s boats, two 8.5 meter and one 10.5 meter RHIBs.

Below are the comments that accompanied the video on YouTube.

Naval News takes you on a tour aboard HMAS Arafura, the latest Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) of the Royal Australian Navy, with the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Marc Beecroft. This video was recorded in November 2025 during Indo Pacific 2025 in Sydney.

Commissioned on 28 June 2025, HMAS Arafura is an Arafura-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV). It is the first of 6 Arafura Class ships built to replace the Armidale-class and Cape-class patrol boats. Arafura was constructed by Luerssen Australia in partnership with ASC Pty Ltd at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia. The vessel will support specialist mission packages such as a maritime tactical unmanned aerial system. In the future, it will support rapid environmental assessment and deployable mine countermeasure capabilities. Protecting Australia’s coastal and territorial waters, Arafura’s primary focus will be on fisheries protection, border security, customs and law enforcement operations. Patrolling Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone, Arafura will work with Australian Border Force, Australian Federal Police and the Australian Fisheries Management Authority. It will also collaborate with regional partners to uphold Australian and International law. This is to ensure our region’s security, defence and economic prosperity against:

• unauthorised entry
• breaches of customs, immigration and drugs legislation
• illegal activity
• risks to the integrity of national fish-stocks, marine environments and other natural resources.

Arafura’s home port is HMAS Stirling; the ship sails with the graceful and adaptable white-spotted eagle stingray on its badge. The first 2 Arafura-class ships were delivered from South Australia. The remaining 4 will be built in Western Australia by Civmec.