The Australian government has awarded Austal Limited a AUD 1.029 billion (USD 681.4 million) contract to build 18 Landing Craft Medium (LCM) vessels for the Australian Army, marking a major investment in the country’s amphibious warfare and logistics capabilities. The program is intended to strengthen Canberra’s ability to deploy troops, vehicles, and equipment from ship to shore during expeditionary operations.
The LCMs will be constructed by Austal’s defence division at the company’s Henderson shipyard in Western Australia, with production scheduled to begin in 2026. Deliveries are expected to continue through 2032, when the Australian Army is set to receive the final vessel under the contract.
According to Australia’s Department of Defence, the steel-built LCMs will be capable of carrying payloads of up to 90 metric tons. This capacity allows the craft to transport heavy military equipment, including four HIMARS launchers, a main battle tank, or an infantry fighting vehicle combined with two Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles—a payload comparable to that of strategic airlifters such as the C-17 Globemaster.
The LCMs form a core element of the LAND 8710 program, which aims to modernize the Australian Defence Force’s amphibious insertion and extraction capabilities. Once in service, the craft will be supported by Amphibious Vehicle Logistics systems for operations in littoral environments and confined waterways, including areas obstructed by debris or enemy defenses. The program also includes eight larger Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) vessels, which Austal will also build at Henderson, further expanding Australia’s amphibious lift capacity.
