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The delivery of 18 medium landing craft for the Australian Army’s new littoral fleet is being accelerated, according to an announcement made by Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy.
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The $2 billion project – part of the government’s record investment in Defence – is expected to create 1,100 direct jobs and more than 2,000 indirect jobs under a program that will also deliver heavy landing craft as well as amphibious vehicles.
The first of the medium landing craft vessels, designed by Birdon and to be built by Austal at the Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia, is expected to be delivered in 2026.
The local build of the medium landing craft is in addition to up to eight heavy landing craft which will also be built by Austal at Henderson.
These vessels are an essential component of Army’s transformation and optimisation for littoral manoeuvre. They will support a strategy of denial which includes deploying and sustaining modernised land forces with long-range land and maritime strike capabilities across the region.
“The Albanese government has an unwavering commitment to safeguarding Australians and their national interests, which is why we are making a record investment in defence and modernising the ADF,” Minister Conroy said.
“Building Australia’s new fleet of landing craft is also part of the government’s commitment to continuous naval shipbuilding in Western Australia and a future made in Australia. This pipeline of work will result in opportunities for the Australian defence industry and support a highly skilled shipbuilding workforce for years to come.
“These new vessels will enable the ADF to deploy and sustain land forces to beaches, rivers and ports in Australia and across our region, enhance our ability to work with regional military partners, and support communities across the Indo-Pacific with humanitarian and disaster relief operations.”
The federal is investing $7 billion towards littoral manoeuvre vessels, an investment that continues to grow the Australian industrial base, supply chains and create highly skilled, well-paid jobs.
About the Landing Craft Medium: With a range of up to 2,000 nautical miles when operating with the Landing Craft Heavy, the Landing Craft Medium are capable of transporting up to 90 tonnes, equivalent to four High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) or one main battle tank, or one infantry fighting vehicle and two Bushmasters. This is similar to the capacity of large aircraft such as a C-17 Globemaster. These landing craft will be supported by the Amphibious Vehicle Logistics which can navigate over beaches and through waterways that may be clogged with obstacles and debris.
Minister Conroy was joined for the announcement by Western Australia’s Minister for Defence Industry, Paul Papalia CSC MLA; Federal Member for Fremantle, Josh Wilson MP; State Member for Cockburn David Scaife MLA; Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, AO DSC; Head of Patrol Boats and Specialist Ships, RADM Wendy Malcolm AM CSC; Deputy Secretary Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Jim McDowell; Austal Limited CEO Paddy Gregg; and Birdon executive general manager Mark Albertson.
