Ribcraft®, the global manufacturer of professional and defence-grade Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs), has entered into a contractual joint venture and licensing agreement with DM8 Composites to establish sovereign RHIB manufacturing capability in the Philippines. The initiative is led regionally by Ribcraft® Australia, which supports the regional alignment of sovereign capability development across the Indo-Pacific.
The agreement supports the Philippines’ advancement toward a more self-reliant maritime defence and security capability, enabling in-country production, sustainment, and delivery of mission-ready RHIB platforms tailored to national operational requirements.
Sovereign capability, delivered in-country
Under the agreement, Ribcraft grants DM8 exclusive rights to manufacture Ribcraft RHIB platforms within the Philippines. DM8 will undertake full vessel production, including hull fabrication, assembly, outfitting, testing, and certification compliance, supported by its Cebu-based facility and established sustainment infrastructure.
This model enables complete in-country capability delivery, ensuring that platforms can be produced, supported, and sustained locally, reducing reliance on external supply chains while improving responsiveness to operational demand.
Operational focus: mission-ready maritime capability
The partnership delivers mission-specific RHIB platforms designed for real-world maritime security and public safety operations across the Philippine archipelagic environment, including:
- Maritime domain awareness and coastal security
- Interdiction and high-speed pursuit
- Boarding operations and force protection
- Search and rescue (SAR) and disaster response
- Patrol operations and agency fleet standardisation
These platforms also support future integration pathways, including autonomous and uncrewed systems, ensuring long-term capability relevance in evolving operational environments.
Industrial impact: building local capability and resilience
Beyond platform delivery, the partnership strengthens Philippine industrial capability through:
- Advanced composites manufacturing
- Workforce skills development
- Integrated vessel production and outfitting
- Through-life support and sustainment capability
DM8 Composites brings a proven track record, having delivered more than 100 high-speed patrol vessels and operating under internationally recognised shipbuilding standards, including Bureau Veritas (BV) certification.
Its vertically integrated model, covering vessel construction, propulsion systems, and onboard equipment, enables the delivery of complete, mission-ready maritime solutions with strong lifecycle support.
Immediate capability: demonstrators available in-country
To accelerate engagement, Ribcraft demonstrator RHIB and SIB are already available in-country through DM8, enabling Philippine agencies to conduct evaluation, mission fit assessment, and operational trials without extended lead times.
Strategic significance
For Ribcraft Australia, this reflects a practical model for extending proven maritime capability into partner nations, aligned with Australia’s growing role in supporting sovereign capability development and maritime security partnerships across the Indo-Pacific.
For more information, visit www.ribcraft.com and www.dm8composites.ph
