Australia is sending state-of-the-art inflatable boats to Ukraine as part of a 100-million-Australian-dollar ($65.6 million) military aid package. The Sentinel 830R RHIB (Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat) is designed for a range of missions across rivers and seas, featuring customized weapon consoles and surveillance systems. Sentinel Boats CEO, George McGuire, stated that the speed and agility of the 830R platform is expected to be used across a range of mission profiles in Ukraine.
The craft are being produced at Sentinel Boats’ Hobart workshop and will be sent in the coming months along with other pledged equipment. The offering is essential to bolster the Ukrainian Navy’s depleted riverine fleet, consisting of reconfigured civilian boats and purpose-built vessels sent by allies. Notable boats delivered to Ukraine include the Swedish CB90 assault craft and the US-donated Dauntless SeaArk patrol boat.
The 8.3-meter (27 feet) craft can accommodate a crew of 10 and features a speed of 40 knots (74 kilometers/46 miles per hour). It is built using high-density polyethylene (HDPE), featuring strength and impact resistance, as well as vibration dampening qualities to reduce crew fatigue. According to the Tasmania-based manufacturer, the HDPE is resistant to the electrolysis effect that reduces the service life of similar aluminum boats in harsh environments.
