Australia to invest in new locally-made landing crafts and amphibious vehicles

 

A LARC-V amphibious vehicle of the Australian Army. Photo c/o Wikipedia.

The Australian government is planning to invest up to A$800 million (US$613 million) for the acquisition of new amphibious vehicles and landing crafts to improve the amphibious and over-water transport capability of the Australian Army.

The plan, which will be covered under the LAND 8710 Phase 1 Army Littoral Manoeuvre - Light, will improve the Australian Defence Force's amphibious capabilities within Australia's territorial waters and near regions starting 2026.

Preference is given to Australian-made products, as part of its commitments to improve and strengthen the Australian defense industry and to create more jobs for Australians.

It also intends to maximize Australia defense industry involvement through the design, construction and sustainment phases, while also using the project as a potential export opportunity.

The new landing craft would provide an independent shore-to-shore and ship-to-shore capabilities to better manoeuvre and sustain the ADF in littoral and riverine environments.

This will replace the Australian Army's existing LCM-8 landing craft medium vessels, which have been introduced in the mid 1960s, modifying the original LCM-8 design from the United States.

Meanwhile, the new amphibious vehicle will provide shore-to-shore, ship-to-shore, and over-the-shore capabilities with enhanced speed and protection, replacing the Australian Army's LARC-V, another asset designed in the 1950s and also needs replacement soon.

The importance of amphibious capabilities was demonstrated during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations during bushfires along Australia's eastern coastline in 2019-2020, evacuating Australians from beaches and coastal communities, while also delivering needed supplies.




[1] Australian Department of Defence
[2] Naval News