NEW RIDE FOR
Aussie bui lt A new regional support craft destined for Army’s 51st Far North Queensland Regiment (51FNQR) underwent sea trials in Yamba on the NSW north coast, as boat manufacturer Yamba Welding & Engineering (YWE) prepared to hand over the craft to the ADF in April. Heralding a new maritime capability for the Regional Force Surveillance Group (RFSG) fleet, the 12.5m Naiad was designed for a number of mission 28
sets, including boosting Army’s sovereign border protection activities in north Queensland. This new watercraft is a sister vessel to a series of Australian Border Force (ABF) Naiads that were delivered by YWE in 2019 for use in a variety of Australian coastal regions as part of Operation Sovereign Borders. It will also join an 11.3m Naiad in operation on Thursday Island by Queensland Police. CONTACT Air Land & Sea – Issue 70 – June 2021
