Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • BAE Systems supplies six P24 RIBs to Austal

Defence

BAE Systems supplies six P24 RIBs to Austal

BAE Systems has built and customised six Pacific 24 (P24) Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs) in its Boats factory in Portsmouth, UK, which are being supplied to Australia's Austal to equip two Cape-class Patrol Boats they are building for the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard.

Above: Boats team in Portsmouth who made the P24s.
Courtesy BAE Systems

The P24 is a small and agile boat that can be deployed for a variety of tasks from counter-piracy and counter-narcotics missions, to force protection, rescue and logistics operations. It is used by a number of military customers, including the Royal Navy, but its versatility, fuel-efficiency and high-tech construction also lends itself to use by civil customers too.

Advertisement
DSEI 2025

The MKIV version of the P24 incorporates the latest technologies in hull construction, including improved shock mitigation and propulsion, and provides extra safety to craft and crew by complying with rigorous Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) testing procedures, including drops, slams and self-righting trials, making them the vessel of choice for coast guard work.

Austal Head of Supply Chain and General Manager New Builds (Australia), Ben Wardle, said: “The MKIV Pacific 24 from BAE Systems was the first choice of sea boat for the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard.
 
“Our customer needs assurance that their sea boats can perform in life and death scenarios in harsh maritime environments, including in tropical storm and hurricane conditions. The pedigree of the P24, with its range of international customers including the military, as well as its SOLAS accreditation made it the ideal vessel for the job.”

The P24’s seating arrangements - six passengers and two crew - will also be specially configured for coast guard operations, including the ability to remove seats in order to boost carrying capacity and carry different loads including stretcher patients or different numbers of passengers.
 
In addition to the standard technical features of the MKIV P24 boat, custom modifications supplied to Austal included the installation of a ground plate that will enable Austal to supply and fit its own radio communications system.

Advertisement
Gulfstream RT

Above: Austal Cape Class Patrol Boat.
Courtesy BAE Systems

 
Dr Brooke Hoskins, Director of Products and Training Services for BAE Systems’ Maritime Services business, said: “It’s great to see our P24s on their way to deliver an enhanced capability for the government of Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard in collaboration with Austal.
 
“We have more than 60 years’ experience of producing specialist high-speed craft for military and civilian customers that include Special Forces, navies, armies, air forces and governments in more than 40 countries around the world. I am confident that the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard will be as delighted with them as all our other customers are.”
 
BAE Systems' other  high-performance sea boats include the Arctic range, a sea boat known for its speed, payload versatility and boarding ability, as used by Coastguard agencies and Lifeboat services, and the Seakeeper 7 series, a load-carrying Logistic Support Boat (LSB).
 
In the UK the P24 is used extensively in the Royal Navy’s surface fleet, being embarked on a number of warships and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels. These include the UK’s new aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, all its Type 45 destroyers, Type 23 frigates and Offshore Patrol Vessels.

 

Advertisement
PTC PTC
BAE Systems

Defence

BAE Systems' Leadership Academy opens in Barrow

14 July 2025

BAE Systems has opened a new Leadership Academy in Barrow to deliver world-class educational facilities for designing and building Royal Navy submarines.

Adarga awarded expanded Defence Support AI contract

Defence

Adarga awarded expanded Defence Support AI contract

14 July 2025

Adarga has been awarded a significantly expanded AI contract by Defence Support, part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD).

BlueBear demos autonomous containment tech for RAF

Defence

BlueBear demos autonomous containment tech for RAF

14 July 2025

New safety containment technology for autonomous Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) has been successfully proven in a demonstration as part of the Royal Air Force (RAF) Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) Project CURBER.

Lane Electronics to showcase defence connectivity at MSPO

Aerospace Defence Events

Lane Electronics to showcase defence connectivity at MSPO

11 July 2025

Lane Electronics, a franchised distributor for many of the industry’s major electrical, electronic and optical connector manufacturers, will be Exhibiting at MSPO 2025 (2nd–5th September 2025, Kielce, Poland), where they will be displaying the latest connector innovations and demonstrating their UK based assembling and value add services.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Flitetec secures two distribution agreements

Aerospace Defence Events

Flitetec secures two distribution agreements

11 July 2025

Amersham based aerospace business Flitetec, has confirmed two major deals that it shook on at the recent Paris Air Show.

GKN Aerospace secures Typhoon transparencies contract

Defence

GKN Aerospace secures Typhoon transparencies contract

10 July 2025

GKN Aerospace has signed a six-year follow-on contract with BAE Systems for continued manufacture of Eurofighter Typhoon transparencies at its Luton facility, through to the end of 2030.

Advertisement
ODU RT