General Dynamics Land Systems-Australia has supplied the first Australian-made stabilised gun mounts for the Navy’s new Armidale Class Patrol Boats. Designed by Rafael Armament Development Authority in Israel , the Typhoon Mk-25 naval mount system will be used for the stabilised operation of the 25mm Bushmaster cannon on the patrol boats.

Local manufacture of the Typhoon gun mount is set to bring a raft of new skills in fully automated naval weapon mount and associated aluminium fabrication work to Australian industry. Mitsubishi and several smaller engineering companies in South Australia will also be involved in making some Typhoon structural components.

The first Armidale Class Patrol Boat, HMAS Armidale, was commissioned in Darwin on 24 June 2005 . Following the design and manufacturing of the first ship unit and a training mount in Israel , manufacturing know-how has been transferred to General Dynamics under agreement with Rafael. The first Australian-made mount is to be fitted to the Navy’s second Patrol Boat, to be named Larrakia.

Local manufacture of the Typhoon gun mount is set to bring a raft of new skills in fully automated naval weapon mount and associated aluminium fabrication work to Australian industry. Mitsubishi and several smaller engineering companies in South Australia will also be involved in making some Typhoon structural components.