Australian shipbuilder Austal secured a landmark A$4 billion contract on February 20, 2026, to construct eight 100-meter Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) vessels for the Australian Defence Force at its Henderson shipyard in Western Australia.
Contract Details
Based on the Damen LST100 design, each 4,000-tonne LCH can carry 200 soldiers plus six M1 Abrams tanks or nine Redback IFVs, supporting amphibious assaults, logistics, and HADR missions with construction starting in 2026 and final delivery by 2038. This follows Austal’s A$1.03 billion LCM contract, forming the core of the Army’s littoral fleet under the Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement.
The deal creates thousands of jobs, expands WA’s naval supply chain, and balances Austal’s orderbook across Australia and USA facilities, with CEO Paddy Gregg calling it the firm’s largest domestic award.
Austal’s ramp-up aligns with Indo-Pacific security dynamics, enhancing Australia’s sealift for exercises with partners like India amid shared concerns over supply chain resilience.
