The Armed Forces of Malta will shortly receive four new inshore patrol boats that Australian shipyard Austal has just finished building.

The 21-metre boats will be delivered just nine months after the contract for them was signed. They can reach speeds of over 26 knots and perform a number of different roles, however, they will primarily be used for surveillance and patrolling.

They are equipped with 12.7mm main machine guns, two 7.6mm light machine guns as well as fire-fighting and rescue equipment.

In October, when the first two boats were completed, Austal business development manager for defence Jamie Robinson said: "Customers are increasingly attracted to vessels that meet multiple requirements, avoiding the need for dedicated craft for each role. This combines with a growing need for fast delivery times."

Production of the other two boats has just been completed.

The new vessels, costing €9.3m and partly financed by the EU, will replace two Swift-class boats, donated by the American government in 1971 and a Bremse-class patrol boat bought from Germany after the country reunified.

They are due to arrive on a cargo ship but the AFM did not give any dates.