Australia has taken a further step in strengthening its littoral warfare capability with the signing of a A$4 billion agreement for the construction of eight landing craft heavy vessels.
The contract signing took place at the Henderson shipyard in Western Australia, where the build tasking statement for the eight vessels was signed with Austal Defence Australia. Construction is scheduled to begin later this year, with all eight landing craft heavy, or LCH, vessels expected to be delivered by 2038.
The programme forms part of the Army’s transformation under the 2024 National Defence Strategy and the 2024 Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Plan. The new vessels are based on the Damen Naval Landing Ship Transport 100 class design and will be capable of transporting more than 500 tonnes. They are intended to manoeuvre, project and sustain land forces across the Indo Pacific during both operations and disaster relief missions.
Reshaping Operations
Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart said the new fleet was central to reshaping land power for operations in Australia’s immediate region.
“Consistent with the NDS, and in an increasingly complex strategic environment, Army is rapidly transforming to optimise for littoral manoeuvre paired with long-range strike capabilities,” Lieutenant General Stuart said.
The littoral is defined as the part of the country near the coast. According to Lieutenant General Stuart, the new vessels will enable forces to operate across the diverse terrain that characterises the region.
“These vessels will allow us to operate across the beaches, rivers, coastal and jungle environments that define our region, and will shape future conflict.”
The LCH fleet is designed to provide the lift and reach required for the Army’s modernised combined arms land system. This includes Abrams main battle tanks, high mobility artillery rocket systems, Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicles and Redback infantry fighting vehicles.
Lieutenant General Stuart said the vessels would enhance both lethality and survivability within the Australian Defence Force’s joint force structure.
“Our future littoral fleet, along with Army’s combined-arms land system, make us more lethal and survivable, strengthening our ability to hold adversaries at risk and to secure strategic terrain,” he said.
Specialised Crews
The fleet will be crewed by a specialised workforce, with the Army working alongside the Royal Australian Navy and industry partners to develop the necessary skills base.
“We are working with the Royal Australian Navy and industry to accelerate training pathways for our littoral warfighters – from maritime warfare officers to marine technicians – ensuring crews will be skilled, safe and ready,” Lieutenant General Stuart said.
The announcement follows the execution of a A$1 billion design and build tasking statement for 18 landing craft medium vessels under the pilot programme for the Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement.
Together, the 26 vessels represent the largest recapitalisation of the Army’s littoral capability since the Second World War.
