Austal Defence Australia has secured an A$4 billion (US$2.83 billion) contract from the Australian government to design and build eight Landing Craft Heavy (LCH), supporting Canberra’s ambition to field an amphibious-capable, combined-arms force.
The vessels will be constructed at Austal’s Henderson shipyard in Western Australia, with all eight scheduled for delivery by 2038.
This LCH programme follows an A$1.029 billion Landing Craft Medium (LCM) design and build contract awarded to Austal in December 2025. It marks the next phase in Australia’s littoral manoeuvre modernisation effort.
Based on Damen’s LST100 design, the LCHs displace between 3,900 and 4,000 tonnes. Each vessel will measure 100m in length, have a 16m beam, and be capable of transporting up to 200 soldiers, in addition to either six M1A2 SEP v3 Abrams main battle tanks or nine AS21 Redback infantry fighting vehicles.
Paddy Gregg, Austal’s CEO, said the LCH contract award under the Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement reinforced the company’s position as an Australian sovereign shipbuilder. The contract also generates a record order book for Austal.
Gregg remarked, “This contract represents another significant investment in Australia’s sovereign shipbuilding capability – and Austal Defence Australia is ready to deliver these highly capable vessels to support the Australian Defence Force’s operational requirements.”
The CEO added: “While Austal’s US business has traditionally accounted for a large share of our defence order book in recent years, this contract reflects the growing strength and success of Austal’s Australian operations – and Australian industry – within the national shipbuilding and sustainment enterprise. This LCH construction contract balances out the split and provides greater geographic diversity of earnings. It also provides earnings and employment stability for the next twelve years.”
Australia’s 2023 Defence Strategic Review called for development of an integrated, amphibious-capable, combined-arms force able to project power and defend the country’s northern approaches.
The review identified the acceleration and expansion of the Australian Army’s littoral manoeuvre vessel fleet as a top priority. The LCH acquisition forms a central pillar of that effort, strengthening Australia’s ability to conduct distributed maritime operations across the Indo-Pacific.
As part of the LCH programme, Canberra is also making available an initial A$30 million to commence early works for interim replacement facilities for non-defence industries that currently utilise the Henderson Common User Facility. This is to ensure these businesses are afforded ongoing access to infrastructure, even as the strategic Henderson Defence Precinct grows.
by Chen Chuanren
