Germany’s Bundeswehr took delivery of the F125 frigate Baden-Württemberg on Tuesday, April 30.

A keel-laying ceremony was recently held for the sixth vessel in the K130 or Braunschweig-class of corvettes ordered for the German Navy.

This is an exciting time for Australian naval shipbuilding. Two patrol vessel programs are underway, the Anzac-class frigate midlife capability assurance program (AMCAP) is completing the first of eight ships, and Hunter-class future frigates are to start construction in 2020, running into the 2030s for nine frigates. The air warfare destroyers are joining the fleet, while in the submarine world both the Collins-class life extension and the Shortfin Barracuda projects are generating a lot of commentary but no construction contracts yet.

Australia’s planned offshore patrol vessel procurement, known in local government and contracting circles as SEA 1180 has gone through a selection stage with a modified version of Lürssen's OPV80 being eventually selected.

A document released to Australian Senator Rex Patrick under freedom of information laws shows the Federal Government paid AU$870 million (US$680 million) above the price offered by German shipbuilder Lürssen to build 12 offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) for the Royal Australian Navy.

Australia’s defence minister has officially signed an AU$3 billion (US$2.4 billion) contract with Lürssen to lead the design and build for 12 offshore patrol vessels (OPV).

Royal Australian Navy base HMAS Cairns will undergo an AU$300 million (US$226 million) upgrade to accommodate new offshore patrol vessels.

A fleet of 12 new Royal Australian Navy offshore patrol vessels will be built in the country to a design by German firm Lürssen.