Australian Government Announces Landing Craft Heavy Design to Be Constructed at Henderson Defence Precinct

Austal Limited (Austal) (ASX: ASB) welcomes the announcement by the Australian Government on the selection of Damen’s Landing Ship Transport 100 (LST100) as the preferred design for the Australian Defence Force’s Landing Craft Heavy, to be constructed by Austal Australia.

Eight Landing Craft Heavy vessels, based on the LST100, will be built by Austal at the Henderson Defence Precinct in Western Australia, subject to acceptable commercial negotiations and demonstrated performance.

Austal Limited Chief Executive Paddy Gregg said the announcement, from Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, The Hon. Pat Conroy MP, was another positive step forward towards continuous naval shipbuilding in Western Australia and a significant opportunity for industry comprising the Henderson Defence Precinct.

“The announcement on the selection of a design for Landing Craft Heavy is great news for the Australian Defence Force and all industry stakeholders, demonstrating the Australian Government’s clear commitment to achieving continuous naval shipbuilding in Western Australia, and delivering an effective littoral capability for the Australian Army.

“Austal looks forward to constructing this important new capability for Australia, following the anticipated finalisation of the Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement and commencement of the Landing Craft Medium contract in 2025.”

Damen’s LST100 vessel design has a 3,900-tonne displacement, with a length overall (LOA) of 100 metres and a beam (width) of 16 metres. The Landing Craft Heavy will be capable of operating with other vessels to undertake a range of tasks including troop insertion and extraction, logistics movements and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

The vessel will be capable of carrying more than 500 tonnes of military vehicles and equipment – it is intended to carry six Abrams Tanks,11 Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles or 26 HIMARS - and will be fitted with self-defence weapons systems and Australian military communications.

Subject to acceptable commercial negotiations and demonstrated performance under the Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement, Austal is expected to commence construction of the first Landing Craft Heavy vessel in 2026. The potential value of the project to Austal’s order book is yet to be fully determined and will be developed through the ongoing commercial discussions with the Australian Government in the coming months.

This ASX announcement has been approved and authorised for release by Paddy Gregg, Austal Limited’s Chief Executive Officer.