The government has announced the selection of global maritime engineering company Birdon as the preferred designer for the Landing Craft Medium capability.
The Commonwealth will work with Birdon and Austal as part of the strategic shipbuilder pilot, to undertake further design maturation to prepare the Landing Craft Medium design, for the construction of 18 vessels at Henderson, Western Australia.
The Landing Craft Medium will provide independent shore-to-shore and ship-to-shore capability to enable movement and sustainment of the amphibious Joint Force over extended ranges in the restricted littoral and riverine environments.
"As an Australian-owned private firm with a global reach, we deeply value and advocate for the pivotal contributions of businesses within Australia's manufacturing and supply landscape," said Jamie Bruce, CEO, Birdon.
"Birdon’s Landing Craft Medium design is integrating a high level of Australian Industry Capability."
The new fleet will be capable of carrying the Joint Forces current and planned armoured and protected vehicles, as a combat laden mission system in high seas states. The vessel will also be interoperable with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) and Landing Ship Dock (LSD).
"We're proud that our Landing Craft Medium design has been selected for the next phase of securing Australia’s sovereign shipbuilding capability," said Joe Smith, General Manager Defence, Birdon.
We look forward to working with the Commonwealth and Austal to deliver this capability to the Army.”