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Western Australian shipbuilder Austal has signed a deal with Dutch naval shipbuilding giant Damen Shipyards Group to support the construction of a new class of landing ships for the Australian Defence Force.
The agreement, signed on Friday, 20 February, will see Damen provide the design and licensing for the Landing Ship Transport (LST) 100 vessels, which Austal will build locally at its shipyard in Henderson.
The signing ceremony took place at the Australian Marine Complex Common User Facility, with representatives from government and industry in attendance. The event highlighted the growing importance of Australia’s shipbuilding sector in delivering new defence capabilities.
The partnership follows the Australian government’s decision in November 2024 to select the LST 100 as the preferred design for the Army’s future Landing Craft Heavy program after a competitive tender process.
The LST 100 design was selected in part because it is based on a proven platform already in service internationally. An earlier version of the vessel has been built and delivered, helping demonstrate the design’s operational reliability.
The platform has also attracted international interest, including selection by the Naval Sea Systems Command for use by the United States Navy.
Defence forces globally are increasingly turning to established ship designs to reduce technical risk and accelerate delivery timelines. By adapting vessels that already have a track record in service, governments can avoid lengthy development cycles and focus on delivering capability more quickly.
Under the program, eight Landing Craft Heavy vessels will be constructed in Western Australia as part of Austal’s 15-year strategic shipbuilding agreement with the Australian government. Construction is expected to begin later this year, with the ships delivered progressively over a 12-year period.
The vessels will be built using Austal’s facilities at Henderson, about 23 kilometres south of Perth. The broader Australian Marine Complex is also undergoing significant upgrades to support future large-scale defence shipbuilding projects.
The new ships will play an important role in implementing the Australian government’s National Defence Strategy, which places greater emphasis on the ability of the Australian Army to operate across the country’s northern approaches and the wider Indo-Pacific.
The Landing Craft Heavy fleet will support more agile, distributed and littoral operations as part of a fully integrated force.
Each vessel will measure around 100 metres in length and 16 metres in beam and will be capable of transporting more than 500 tonnes of military vehicles and equipment.
Beyond amphibious operations, the ships are expected to support a wide range of missions, including logistics and sustainment operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and regional security deployments.
Damen regional director Oceania Rabien Bahadoer said the partnership had been built on close cooperation between the two companies.
“It has been a pleasure to work closely with Austal throughout this process. By maintaining an open, transparent and constructive partnership, we’ve been able to establish a strong foundation for a program that delivers lasting value for Western Australia and Australia’s defence capability,” he said.
Damen area director Asia-Pacific Michiel Hendrikx said the company was committed to working with local industry partners.
“Around the world, we seek long-term partnerships with strong local shipbuilders, combining shared expertise, mutual respect and a commitment to quality,” he said.
“This approach helps support sustainable national shipbuilding industries while strengthening defence capability. We’re proud to be part of Australia’s shipbuilding future and confident this program will support the Australian Army’s operational needs for many years to come.”
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
