Australian Shipbuilder to Design and Build 18 LCM Vessels for Australian Army

Austal Defence Australia has secured a $1 billion AUD contract from the Australian government to design and build 18 Landing Craft Medium (LCM) vessels for the Australian Army. The deal will see Austal complete the detailed design and construction for the landing craft at its shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia, with work on the first LCM expected to begin next year. The LCMs will be capable of carrying loads of up to 80 tonnes (88 tons) and are part of Australia’s Project Land 8710 Phase 1A program. The contract is a significant win for Austal, which will also build eight heavy landing craft based on the Dutch Damen LST100 design under the Project Land 8710 Phase 2 Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) program. The company’s involvement in the project may indicate a focus on sovereign shipbuilding, as it will be responsible for designing and building the LCMs in Australia. The Australian government has also committed an additional $12 billion AUD towards improving Henderson to build eight Mogami-class frigates for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and contingency docking capabilities for Australia’s future nuclear-powered submarine fleet under the AUKUS pact. This contract may be seen as a strategic move by the Australian government to strengthen its naval capabilities and improve its relationships with its allies. The deal was first reported by Breaking Defense.