On February 20, Australian defense shipbuilding group Austal announced on its official website that in accordance with the announcements from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon. Richard Marles, and the Hon. Pat Conroy, Minister for Defence Industry, Austal Defence Shipbuilding Australia Pty Ltd (Austal Defence Australia) has been awarded a ~$4 billion contract for the construction of eight Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) vessels, under the Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement (SSA) with the Commonwealth of Australia. Following the Minister’s announcement, the contract will be executed later today at Henderson; Austal will confirm its execution in a separate short announcement to the ASX thereafter.
Construction of the 100 metre Landing Craft Heavy vessels, based on the Damen LST100 design, will be undertaken using Austal facilities and the Common User Facility at Henderson in Western Australia. Construction is scheduled to commence in 2026, with the eighth and final vessel scheduled for delivery to the Commonwealth in 2038.
Austal Limited Chief Executive Officer, Paddy Gregg, said the award of the Landing Craft Heavy contract to Austal Defence Australia under the Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement reinforced the company’s position as the Commonwealth of Australia’s sovereign shipbuilder and a trusted partner to the Australian Defence Force. This contract generates a record order book for Austal, provides a long-term demand signal for our supply chain, and provides the incentive to invest in uplifting our capability.
Austal Defence Australia Executive General Manager – Strategic Shipbuilding, Gavin Stewart said Landing Craft Heavy was the second major construction contract awarded under the Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement, following the award of the $1.029 billion Landing Craft Medium design and build contract in December 2025.
The Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) vessels will provide the Australian Defence Force with a critical maritime capability, supporting amphibious operations, logistics, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief across Australia’s region of interest.
This LCH vessel is based on the Damen LST100 design, with a length of approximately 100 meters, a beam of 16 meters, and a displacement of approximately 3,900-4,000 tons. It can accommodate up to 200 personnel. The first heavy landing ship is expected to begin construction in 2026, and the eighth and final ship is expected to be delivered in 2038. At that time, it will provide the Australian Defence Force with critical maritime capabilities, supporting amphibious operations, logistical support, humanitarian assistance, and regional disaster relief operations.
“This contract represents another significant investment in Australia’s sovereign shipbuilding capability – and Austal Defence Australia is ready to deliver these highly capable vessels to support the ADF’s operational requirements,” Mr Gregg said.