Defence orders 18 LCMs from Austal on accelerated schedule

The build of 18 Land Craft Medium (LCM) for the Australian Army’s new littoral fleet is being accelerated. The $2 billion program, Project LAND 8710, will also deliver heavy landing craft as well as amphibious vehicles.

The first of the LCMs, designed by Birdon in Port Macquarie, NSW, and to be built by Austal at its Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia, is expected to be delivered in 2026. A prototype of this craft, jointly designed by Sydney-based marine architect Incat Crowther, is under construction in WA at the yard of Echo Marine Group.

A further eight Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) will also be built by Austal at Henderson once a design is selected. Overall, the Australian government says it is investing $7 billion in its littoral manoeuvre vessels, an investment that continues to grow the Australian industrial base and supply chain.

The LCMs are an essential component of Army’s transformation and optimisation for littoral manoeuvre, says Defence. They will support a strategy of denial which includes deploying and sustaining modernised land forces with long-range land and maritime strike capabilities across our region.

“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,” said Pat Conroy MP, Minister for Defence Industry. “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.”

With a range of up to 2,000 nautical miles when operating with the LCH, the LCMs 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.