The government announced it has selected a design by Damen Shipyards Group as the preferred option for the ADF's Landing Craft Heavy on 22 November, under a program that it says will bolster national defence by establishing a new littoral fleet.
The announcement is expected to create 1,100 direct jobs and more than 2,000 indirect jobs, according to Minister for Defence Industry & Capability Delivery Pat Conroy.
"The Government has prioritised the acquisition of new littoral manoeuvre capabilities and infrastructure to meet the aims of the National Defence Strategy. Today’s announcement is the next stage in the transformation of the Australian Army to one focused on littoral manoeuvre and long-range strike," the Ministerial press release stated.
"The Damen Shipyards Group’s Landing Ship Transport 100 (LST100) will provide a capability which is essential to the restructure and re-posture of the Army. The vessels, along with Landing Craft Medium and amphibious vehicles, will support a strategy of denial which includes deploying and sustaining land forces with long-range land and maritime strike capabilities in littoral environments."
Eight Landing Craft Heavy vessels, based on the LST100, will be built by Australian shipbuilder Austal at the Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia, subject to acceptable commercial negotiations and demonstrated performance.
The LST100 vessel design has a 3,900-tonne displacement, is 100 meters long and 16 meters wide. It will be capable of operating with other vessels to undertake a range of tasks including troop insertion and extraction, logistics movements and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
The vessel will be capable of carrying more than 500 tonnes of military vehicles and equipment – it is intended to carry six Abrams Tanks,11 Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles or 26 HIMARS - and will be fitted with self-defence weapons systems and Australian military communications.
Construction of the first Landing Craft Heavy is expected to start in 2026 and funding for new littoral manoeuvre vessels is part of the Integrated Investment Program (2024-34).
“Importantly, these vessels will be built in Australia, from Australian steel. This not only underscores the Albanese Government’s commitment to keep Australians safe but also to a safer future made in Australia," Minister Conroy said.
“This project is an important part of our plans for continuous naval shipbuilding in both South Australia and Western Australia, which is creating thousands of well-paid and high-skilled jobs.”