Australia Gifts Guardian-class Patrol Boat to Maldives

Australia will gift a Guardian-class Patrol Boat and hydrographic equipment to the Maldives, in a move both countries say strengthens their bilateral ties and supports regional security in the Indian Ocean.

The announcement was made jointly by Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, and Maldives’ Minister of Defence, Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon.

The 39.5-metre-long Guardian-class vessel is currently under construction and is expected to be delivered in 2026. With a 3,000 nautical mile range and space for 23 personnel, it will allow the Maldives to extend its maritime surveillance and enforcement operations across its vast exclusive economic zone.

In addition to the patrol boat, Australia will also provide a multi-beam echo sounder, which will enhance Maldives’ capacity to conduct ocean floor mapping. This equipment is intended to aid maritime safety and support economic development initiatives.

Australia will also help Maldives develop a maintenance and sustainment package for the patrol vessel to ensure long-term operational readiness.

While often known for its luxury tourism sector, the Maldives is also situated in a strategically significant area of the Indian Ocean. It has been a point of interest for both India and China, with shifting foreign policy under President Mohamed Muizzu’s administration.