CUTTING-EDGE TASMANIAN TACTICAL DEFENCE VESSEL MAKING WAVES
As Australia focuses on boosting its national defence capabilities, one Tasmanian business has emerged as a leader in the development of a new breed of tactical response vessels.
Tasmanian advanced manufacturing group PFG has today officially launched The Sentinel 1100, the latest in its Family of Sea Boats designed for high-performance defence, security and emergency services.
The stealthy, low-profile vessel has a reconfigurable design for elite defence requirements, such as high-speed pursuits, air drops, hard beaching, or the insertion of troops. The next generation 11m boat can be networked with cloud-based monitoring and control systems for optional autonomous operation.
“A major point of difference for The Sentinel 1100 is its innovative construction from high-density polyethylene (HDPE),” says PFG Chief Executive Officer, Rob Inches. “This is the next evolution of a material PFG has pioneered for decades; tried and tested in harsh Southern Ocean environments to be near-indestructible and rapidly repairable in action.
“Duty of care is paramount when our elite defence forces deploy into the field. HDPE has unique vibration-dampening properties, meaning The Sentinel 1100 can achieve maximum speed, stability, and handling with minimal personnel fatigue.
“It brings our service men and women home safe.”
The Sentinel 1100 is designed in partnership with Sydney-based One2Three Naval Architects, informed by the operational experience of PFG’s Defence Capability Advisory Committee – a board of navy and security veterans.
The vessel has already generated buzz when previewed at defence trade shows in Australia and the US this year. The Hon. Madeleine Ogilvie MP, Minister for Advanced Manufacturing and Defence Industries officially launched The Sentinel 1100 in Hobart on Tuesday.
“It’s so exciting to see innovative Tasmanian businesses like PFG come to the fore, as Australia looks to strengthen its sovereign defence capability and do all we can to keep our people safe,” Minister Ogilvie said.
“The Australian Defence Force has identified shipbuilding as a priority area to be delivered by local industry, and ‘specialised watercraft, maritime products and advanced services’ is also a priority area under the Tasmanian Defence Industry Strategy.
“In Tasmania, we are building the essential skills, technology and intellectual property to keep Australia secure.”
“We’re confident The Sentinel Family of Sea Boats puts PFG in a competitive position for upcoming ADF tenders next year,” says Mr Inches.
