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Australia awards MCM USV contract

2nd March 2018 - 09:10 GMT | by Gordon Arthur in Hong Kong

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Steber International, an Australian manufacturer of fibreglass boats, won a contract worth more than A$6 million ($4.7 million) late last year to build five USVs for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

Visiting the Taree-based shipbuilder in late February, Defence Minister Marise Payne noted, ‘Steber vessels will be configured as unmanned surface vessels and mine countermeasure support boats that deploy systems to protect our navy assets.’

Each boat measures 11.6m (38ft) in length and are being procured as part of the RAN’s Deployable Mine Countermeasure project known as Sea 1778 Phase 1.

The five USVs, to be delivered in 2018-19, will

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Gordon Arthur

Gordon Arthur was the Asia Pacific editor for Shephard Media. Born in Scotland and educated …

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