Australia’s leading defence company has announced a new partnership to address the Australian Department of Defence (DoD)’s LAND 8710 Phase 1A programme, which calls for the supply and delivery of amphibious landing craft to replace the Australian Army’s ageing LCM-8 landing craft and LARC -V amphibious vehicle valued at approximately A$800 million.
Austal Australia announced in early May that it was working with local defence companies BMT and Raytheon Australia to deliver an Australian Independent Littoral Motor Vessel (ILMV) based on BMT’s proven design and optimised for the Australian environment. If selected, Raytheon Australia will be Austal’s prime contractor for the construction of the BMT-designed vessel at its Henderson shipyard in Western Australia.
“As one of Australia’s largest shipbuilders, with proven world-class operations and decades of Australian Defence Force experience, we have a trusted, existing workforce to deliver multiple projects from our Henderson shipyard. Our unique ability to design for production at the shipyard will also minimise the risk and cost of the LAND 8710-1A programme,” said Austal CEO Paddy Gregg.
Meanwhile, Serco Australia and Civmec have announced a joint venture to compete for the LAND 8710 Phase 1A at the Indo Pacific 2022 show opening in Sydney on May 10. The new company is called the Australian Maritime Alliance (AMA). Under this arrangement, the joint venture will use Serco Australia’s Oboe Littoral Motor Vessel Medium (LMV-M) design, which has been further refined over the past year to meet the needs of the military.
“With Serco and Civmec’s complementary capabilities and shared community values in enabling the continued growth of Australia’s shipbuilding industry, our alliance will bring together Serco’s global shipbuilding expertise and Civmec’s best workforce skills by enhancing Western Australia’s industrial capabilities, matched to deliver proven benefits. Technology and infrastructure capabilities,” said Serco Defense Managing Director Clint Thomas.
Under LAND 8710 Phase 1A, the amphibious ships must be able to transport the Army’s existing and planned fleet of protected vehicles in a variety of sea conditions and interoperate with the Royal Australian Navy’s Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Docks (LHD) and the Gulf-class Landing Ship HMAS Choules.
The Department of Defense is expected to announce its decision by 2024, with selected designs due to enter service in 2026.
by Jr Ng
