On Friday, 20 February, Austal Defence Australia and Damen Shipyards Group signed a contract supporting the local construction of Landing Ship Transport (LST) 100 vessels for the Australian Defence Force. Under the agreement, Damen will provide the design and associated licences, enabling Austal to build the vessels at its Henderson shipyard in Western Australia.
The signing ceremony took place at the Australian Marine Complex Common User Facility (AMC CUF) in Henderson and was attended by representatives from industry and government, reflecting the importance of the programme for Australia’s defence and industrial capability.
The contract follows the Commonwealth of Australia’s announcement in November 2024 selecting the LST 100 as the preferred design for the Australian Defence Force’s Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) programme, following a competitive tender process.
Proven and trusted design
The LST 100 design was selected based on its proven operational credentials and successful service history. An earlier model has already been constructed and delivered, and its performance has contributed to further international adoption, including selection by NAVSEA for the United States Navy.
In recent years, defence organisations have increasingly adopted proven and in-service vessel designs as a means of reducing programme risk and accelerating delivery schedules. By building on established platforms with a demonstrated operational track record, defence organisations are able to minimise technical uncertainties, shorten development timelines, and focus on rapid capability deployment.
For Australia, the vessels will be built by Austal as part of the company’s fifteen-year Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement with the Commonwealth of Australia. A total of eight Landing Craft Heavy vessels will be delivered over a twelve-year period, with construction scheduled to commence later this year.
The vessels will be constructed in Henderson using Austal facilities and the AMC CUF, located 23 kilometres south of Perth. The complex, which already plays an important role in supporting the local economy, is undergoing major upgrades in order to be able to facilitate large-scale defence shipbuilding projects in the coming years.
Strengthening littoral capabilities
The Landing Craft Heavy program supports the Australian Army’s contribution to the 2024 National Defence Strategy, which includes enhancing the Army’s ability to conduct agile, distributed and littoral operations as part of an integrated force. The new vessels will help enable Army to project, sustain and support land forces across Australia’s northern approaches and wider region, contributing to a more responsive and resilient national defence posture.
Damen is proud to bring our expertise and craftsmanship to this Australian shipbuilding project, which will enhance capability, support sustainability, drive regional development, and strengthen the Australian Defence Force’s littoral capabilities.
Wide-ranging operational role
Each vessel, measuring 100 metres by 16 metres, will be capable of transporting more than 500 tonnes of military vehicles and equipment. In addition to supporting amphibious operations, the ships will enable deployment, sustainment, logistics movements, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief missions.
Building a strong partnership
Damen Regional Director Oceania Rabien Bahadoer said: “It has been a pleasure to work closely with Austal throughout this process. By maintaining an open, transparent, and constructive partnership, we have been able to establish a strong basis for a programme that delivers lasting value for Western Australia and Australia’s defence capability.”
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Damen Area Director Asia Pacific Michiel Hendrikx added: “We are grateful for the opportunity to work alongside Austal and our Australian partners on this important programme. Around the world, we actively seek long-term cooperation with strong local shipbuilders and industrial partners, combining shared expertise, mutual respect, and a commitment to quality. This approach allows us to contribute to sustainable national shipbuilding ecosystems while learning from our partners and growing together. We are confident that this collaboration will support the Australian Army’s operational needs for many years to come, and we are proud to be part of Australia’s shipbuilding future.”