As Australia’s SEA1180 Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) project moves from first-of-class delivery to serial production, L3Harris has a pivotal role in helping the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) deliver a modern, resilient and sovereign patrol capability.
As the core mission systems integrator, L3Harris delivers the OPV’s central nervous system. This includes integrated communications, bridge, navigation, and the platform management system, which seamlessly connects crew, sensors, and machinery. Designed for reliability, these systems ensure safe and efficient command and control in all conditions.
“Our team’s deep naval integration expertise and embedded technical support have been crucial in overcoming challenges and accelerating acceptance,” said Jamie Rebbeck, Managing Director for L3Harris in Australia. “The result is an outstanding patrol vessel, with a proven design well-suited for the region.”
With the build now centred at Henderson, L3Harris is focused on scalable production and long-term sustainment. The company is streamlining installation and testing processes with CDI to ensure consistency across all ships. Concurrently, it is investing in local sustainment by expanding its Australian engineering workforce in Fremantle and Cairns, ensuring rapid, on-the-ground support for the fleet.
Sustainment is engineered into every solution. Regional support functions near Henderson will provide local spares, software updates, and field engineering, shortening maintenance cycles and maximizing fleet availability. Comprehensive training programs also equip RAN personnel with the skills to confidently operate and maintain these advanced systems.
In the digital age, cyber resilience is paramount. L3Harris embeds secure architectures and rigorous software lifecycle management into the OPV’s systems, safeguarding mission integrity against evolving threats in line with national defence cyber strategy.
Ultimately, the SEA1180 project is a catalyst for sovereign industrial growth. Through deep partnerships with Australian suppliers and the development of local expertise, L3Harris is helping build a lasting national capacity to integrate and sustain complex defence systems. As the Arafura class grows, L3Harris remains committed to ensuring Australia’s patrol fleet is ready, reliable, and sovereign—today and for the future.
