Austal has welcomed Defence's decision to select Damen Shipyard's LST-100 design as the basis of the Australian Army's future Landing Craft Heavy.
"Austal looks forward to constructing this important new capability for Australia, following the anticipated finalisation of the Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement and commencement of the Landing Craft Medium contract in 2025," said Austal CEO Paddy Gregg.
Construction of the eight-vessel strong class will commence in 2026 at Austal's Henderson shipyard, assuming that Austal meets performance expectations under the Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement and Landing Craft Medium Program. The value of the order is yet to be determined as negotiations are ongoing.
“The announcement on the selection of a design for Landing Craft Heavy is great news for theAustralian Defence Force and all industry stakeholders, demonstrating the Australian Government’s clear commitment to achieving continuous naval shipbuilding in Western Australia, and delivering an effective littoral capability for the Australian Army," Gregg said.