This next generation Pacific 24 Mark-4 will be deployed on Royal Navy ships such as the offshore patrol vessels, as well as the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers due to arrive in Portsmouth in 2017. The RIBs are the workhorse of the Royal Navy, deploying from ship or shore at speeds of up to 38 knots (44mph) as a rapid response craft to perform fast rescue, anti-piracy and counter-narcotics missions.
The high energy operations they perform means the strain on crews can be huge. To tackle this, the Pacific 24 Mark-4 RIB will include high performance shock absorbing seats which will minimise crew fatigue, allowing them to travel up to six-times the distance.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: “These 60 new RIBs provide a vital capability to the Royal Navy and are a clear benefit of the £178 billion this government is investing in new military equipment.
“Built in Portsmouth dockyard this contract is not only good news for the Navy, but also for BAE Systems whose innovation has provided a modern design that will allow our armed forces to carry out operations ranging from armed boarding including anti-piracy and counter-narcotics missions to providing emergency rescue.”
