Landing craft development moves to new phase

The transformation of the Australian Army into a force optimised for amphibious operations and long-range strike is advancing, with construction in Western Australia of landing craft vessels now progressing to a new phase. Construction of the Army’s Landing Craft Heavy is now underway and on schedule with steel cut on the first vessels late last month. The Australian government has awarded over $5 billion in contracts to deliver 18 Landing Craft Medium and eight Landing Craft Heavy for Army, a project that has already boosted employment and local economic activity. The project will create 1,100 direct jobs and more than 2,000 indirect jobs in Western Australia and directly support the Government’s commitment to continuous shipbuilding in the state. Capable of transporting combined-arms land systems, including High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, Abrams main battle tanks, and reconnaissance and infantry fighting vehicles, the vessels will strengthen the Australian Defence Force’s ability to hold potential adversaries at risk and secure strategic terrain. This significant progress demonstrates the government’s commitment to delivering Army’s future littoral fleet, while advancing the priorities of the National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program, strengthening Australia’s sovereign defence industrial base, and creating skilled employment. In a further boost to Australia’s sovereign shipbuilding capability, the government’s National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC) last month announced a $245 million loan to Austal Defence Shipbuilding Australia Pty Ltd to support the construction and fit out of Landing Craft Heavy facilities within the Australian Marine Complex. The project – part of the government’s record investment in Defence – represents the largest recapitalisation of Army’s littoral capability since the Second World War. Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said: “Progress in constructing Army’s landing craft fleet marks the transition from design into delivery and an important step in building a critical capability for the Australian Defence Force. As construction activity ramps up, we are creating thousands of jobs for locals, providing businesses the confidence they need to invest and grow their workforce. These two landing craft projects are critical to the Albanese Government’s continuous shipbuilding plan for WA, which is providing job security for generations to come, and making Australians safer.” WA Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence Amber-Jade Sanderson said: “Western Australian businesses are playing a central role in the future of the Australian Army. Local operator Austal is showing the impressive capability of our State’s growing defence industry, with construction of the first landing craft well underway as part of our commitment to bring continuous naval shipbuilding to WA. Projects like these create quality local jobs, support our sovereign capability and help to diversify our economy for the future.” Josh Wilson, Federal Member for Fremantle, said: “Generations of local workers have helped make Henderson one of Australia’s leading maritime hubs. Building these vessels here in WA will carry that legacy forward and strengthen Australia’s sovereign capability to build and sustain critical maritime assets at home. These projects will create more opportunities for local workers, apprentices, and businesses, while also contributing to the steady pipeline of work needed to grow and retain the skilled workforce that will underpin Australia’s continuous shipbuilding future.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Group Sales Director Simon Hadfield at [email protected]