As Australia’s SEA1180 Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) programme progresses from first-of-class delivery to serial production, L3Harris Technologies is playing a central role in delivering a modern, resilient and sovereign patrol capability for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
The Arafura-class OPVs form the backbone of Australia’s next-generation patrol fleet, designed to secure maritime borders, protect national interests and provide humanitarian support. With the first vessels entering service and ships three to six under construction at Civmec Defence Industries’ (CDI) Henderson shipyard in Western Australia, the programme has moved into a critical production phase, turning proven design into enduring capability.
From the outset, L3Harris has delivered the OPV’s key mission systems, including integrated communications, navigation, bridge and platform management systems. These connect the crew, sensors and shipboard machinery, ensuring safe and efficient operations across all conditions.
“L3Harris has consistently invested in the success of the OPV project, and we’re proud to see these vessels entering service,” said Jamie Rebbeck, Managing Director, Integrated Mission Systems Australia, L3Harris. “Naval systems integration is a core strength of our team, and our embedded senior technical experts worked closely with the shipyard to overcome challenges and accelerate integration and acceptance.”
As shipbuilding transitions fully to CDI’s Henderson facility, L3Harris’ focus has shifted toward sustainment and efficiency. Working with CDI and the Commonwealth, the company is standardising installation and testing across all ships to ensure quality and consistency.
L3Harris is also expanding its Australian engineering and sustainment workforce in Fremantle and Cairns, embedding local expertise close to where vessels are built and maintained. This strengthens Australia’s industrial base and ensures rapid, on-the-ground support for the RAN.
Sustainment has been engineered into every system, with a focus on longevity, ease of maintenance and lifecycle affordability. L3Harris is establishing regional support functions near Henderson to provide spares management, software updates and field engineering, reducing maintenance cycles and improving fleet availability.
Comprehensive training programmes are also in place, giving RAN personnel the skills to operate and maintain advanced systems confidently.
Cyber resilience is central to L3Harris’ approach. Its OPV systems incorporate secure software lifecycle management and cyber-hardened architectures, supported by regular security updates and rigorous testing aligned with Australia’s Defence Cyber Security Strategy.
The SEA1180 programme has become a catalyst for sovereign industrial growth. By partnering with Australian suppliers, developing local expertise and transferring knowledge, L3Harris is helping to build a sustainable national defence capability.
