Austal Limited announced that the Australian Government has ordered an additional Guardian-class Patrol Boat from Austal Australia for AUD 15.2 million. The 39.5 steel hull patrol boat, to be constructed in Western Australia and delivered in September 2024, is in addition to the 21 Guardian-class Patrol Boats ordered by the Australian Government under the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project (SEA3036-1) in 2016. Fifteen of the 21 vessels have been delivered to 12 Pacific Island nations under the Australian Government's Pacific Maritime Security Program, since 2018.

The Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project (SEA3036-1) was awarded to Austal Australia in May 2016, with an additional contract option awarded in April 2018, taking the program to 21 vessels, valued at more than AUD 335 million. Twelve Pacific Island nations including Papua New Guinea, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Palau, Samoa, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Timor-Leste will receive the vessels through to 2023. The Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project supports more than 200 jobs at Austal Australia (directly) and a further 200 jobs indirectly, nationally, through Australian businesses contracted by Austal.

Austal Australia's service centre in Cairns, Queensland, featuring a 1,200 tonne (80 metre LOA) slipway and a 1,120-tonne mobile boat hoist, continues to provide in-service support to the growing Guardian-class Patrol Boat fleet; with more than 100 people employed in a variety of engineering and sustainment roles in the Far North Queensland city. The 39.5 metre Guardian-class steel monohull patrol boat ­ designed, constructed, and sustained by Austal Australia ­ is based on a proven design platform that has included the 38 metre Bay-class, 56 metre Armidale-class and 58 metre Cape-class patrol boats that are in service with the Australian Border Force and Royal Australian Navy.