Albanese Government Boosting ADF Capability and Safeguarding Australians with Accelerated Littoral Fleet Build
23 July 24
The build of 18 medium landing craft for the Army’s new littoral fleet is being accelerated, underscoring the Albanese Government’s commitment to keeping Australians safe and support for Australia’s sovereign defence industry.
The $2 billion project – part of the Government’s record investment in Defence – is expected to create 1,100 direct jobs and more than 2,000 indirect jobs under a program that will also deliver heavy landing craft as well as amphibious vehicles.
The first of the medium landing craft vessels, designed by Birdon and to be built by Austal at the Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia, is expected to be delivered in 2026.
The local build of the medium landing craft is in addition to up to eight heavy landing craft which will also be built by Austal at Henderson.
These vessels are an essential component of Army’s transformation and optimisation for littoral manoeuvre. They will support a strategy of denial which includes deploying and sustaining modernised land forces with long-range land and maritime strike capabilities across our region.
The Albanese Government is investing $7 billion towards littoral manoeuvre vessels, an investment that continues to grow the Australian industrial base, supply chains and create highly skilled, well-paid jobs.
Source: Defence Press Release