Austal Defence Australia is to build eight Landing Craft Heavy vessels, under licence from Damen Shipyards Group. for the Australian Defence Force,
Under the agreement, Damen will provide the design and associated licences to Austal for local construction of Landing Ship Transport (LST) 100 vessels at Austal’s Henderson shipyard in Western Australia. The agreement and build forms part of the company’s fifteen-year Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement with the Commonwealth of Australia.
The LST 100 design was selected based on its proven operational credentials and successful service history. An earlier model has already been constructed and delivered, and its performance has contributed to further international adoption, including selection by NAVSEA for the United States Navy
The signing ceremony took place at the Australian Marine Complex Common User Facility (AMC CUF) in Henderson and was attended by representatives from industry and government.
The new vessels will help enable the Australian Army to project, sustain and support land forces across Australia’s northern approaches and wider region, contributing to a more responsive and resilient national defence posture.
Each vessel, measuring 100 metres by 16 metres, will be capable of transporting more than 500 tonnes of military vehicles and equipment. In addition to supporting amphibious operations, the ships will enable deployment, sustainment, logistics movements, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief missions.
The eight Landing Craft Heavy vessels will be delivered over a twelve-year period, with construction scheduled to commence later this year.
Damen Regional Director Oceania Rabien Bahadoer said, “It has been a pleasure to work closely with Austal throughout this process. By maintaining an open, transparent, and constructive partnership, we have been able to establish a strong basis for a programme that delivers lasting value for Western Australia and Australia’s defence capability.”
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Damen Area Director Asia Pacific Michiel Hendrikx added, “We are grateful for the opportunity to work alongside Austal and our Australian partners on this important programme.
“Around the world, we actively seek long-term cooperation with strong local shipbuilders and industrial partners, combining shared expertise, mutual respect, and a commitment to quality. This approach allows us to contribute to sustainable national shipbuilding ecosystems while learning from our partners and growing together.
“We are confident that this collaboration will support the Australian Army’s operational needs for many years to come, and we are proud to be part of Australia’s shipbuilding future.”
