A computer-generated image of the Australian Independent Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel. (Raytheon Australia)
Raytheon Australia has teamed up with shipbuilder Austal and maritime systems designer BMT in its bid to supply the Australian Army with a new amphibious landing craft.
The proposal, presented by the teaming, is known as the Independent Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel (ILMV) and it seeks to fulfil Canberra's Land 8710 Phase 1A requirement, which will enhance the Australian Army's amphibious assault capabilities.
The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) issued a request for tender (RFT) in December 2021, which called for the supply and delivery of shore-to-shore and ship-to-shore amphibious landing craft that can operate in littoral and riverine environments. The vessels would replace the Australian Army's ageing fleet of LCM-8 vessels and LARC-5 (Lighter, Amphibious Resupply, Cargo, 5 tonne) amphibious vehicles.
As a part of the requirements further outlined in Land 8710, the amphibious vessels must be able to transport the Australian Defence Force's (ADF's) current and planned fleet of armoured and protected vehicles across various sea conditions and interoperate with the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's) two Canberra-class helicopter carriers and the Bay-class landing ship, HMAS Choules .
If the ILMV is selected for the Land 8710 Phase 1A programme, Raytheon Australia will lead the teaming arrangement to build the vessels in Western Australia, said the company in a 5 May media release. “The Australian ILMV is a resilient and flexible vessel that meets [the Australian] Army's requirements. It is robust and capable, and future-ready with clear growth and upgrade opportunities to ensure our solution supports the ‘Army in Motion' as they respond to accelerated warfare,” said Michael Ward, Raytheon Australia's managing director.
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