Australia accelerates army's medium landing craft project

A computer-generated visualisation of how the Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel – Medium (LMV-M) would be utilised. (Birdon Group)

A project to acquire 18 medium landing craft for the Australian Army is being accelerated, the country's Department of Defence (DoD) disclosed in a statement on 23 July.

The project will cost AUD2 billion (USD1.3 billion), and the first vessel under the programme, which will be built by Austal at its Henderson facility, is expected to be delivered in 2026, the statement added.

Australia is acquiring 18 Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel – Medium (LMV-M) craft under the country's project Land 8710 Phase 1.

These vessels will replace the Australian Army's fleet of 15 LCM-8s that are presently operated by the service's 35th Water Transport Squadron.

In November 2023 the DoD disclosed that it has selected Birdon Group as its preferred designer for the LMV-M project, with Austal building the vessels at Henderson after “further design maturation”.

In line with this, the DoD has also signed a heads of agreement (HOA) with Austal to establish a Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement (SSA) under which the LMV-M craft will be built.

Under this SSA, Austal will also be involved in constructing up to eight LMV-Heavy (LMV-H) craft under the second phase of project Land 8710, and these vessels will replace the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's) Balikpapan-class landing craft heavy that left service in 2014.

According to details provided by the DoD, the LMV-M craft will have a range of up to 2,000 n miles when operating with the LMV-H.

The LMV-M can transport up to 90 tonnes, which is equivalent to four High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARSs), or one main battle tank, or one infantry fighting vehicle and two Bushmasters.