Canberra has selected Austal to deliver 18 new Landing Craft Medium vessels under a AUD 1.029 billion contract, significantly expanding the Australian Army’s amphibious transport fleet. The vessels are designed to support ship-to-shore movement of personnel, vehicles, and heavy equipment, a critical requirement for modern amphibious and expeditionary operations.
Construction of the LCMs will take place at Austal’s Henderson shipyard in Western Australia, with work scheduled to commence in 2026. The project timeline anticipates final delivery by 2032, ensuring a steady introduction of new capability into the Australian Defence Force over the coming decade.
The Australian Department of Defence has confirmed that the steel-hulled LCMs will feature a 90-metric-ton payload capacity, enabling the transport of armored vehicles, rocket artillery systems, and combat logistics loads. The craft can carry payloads equivalent to four HIMARS launchers, one main battle tank, or multiple armored vehicles, offering flexibility comparable to large military air transport platforms.
The LCM acquisition is part of Australia’s broader LAND 8710 amphibious modernization program, which focuses on enhancing the ADF’s ability to deploy forces in contested littoral and riverine environments. Alongside the LCMs, Austal will also lead the development of eight Landing Craft Heavy vessels, each capable of carrying substantially larger loads, including multiple tanks or infantry fighting vehicles, further reinforcing Australia’s amphibious warfare and logistics capabilities.
