Australian Army enhances littoral reach with new landing craft
The Australian Army’s LCM-8 fleet, an example of which is seen here, will be replaced by the LMV-M. (Photo: Gordon Arthur)
The Australian Army is set to enhance its amphibious capabilities with the accelerated delivery of new, long-range Littoral Manoeuvre Vessels-Medium (LMV-M) by 2026, as announced by Pat Conroy, the country’s minister for defence industry, in response to the Defence Strategic Review.
The Australian Army has relied on 15 ageing LCM-8 landing craft for more than five decades, but two new types of domestically built, independent, long-range landing craft will give the army a much-needed amphibious shot in the arm.
Responding to strident calls in last year’s Defence Strategic Review for littoral sealift, Pat Conroy, minister for defence industry in the country’s government, announced on 23 July that delivery of 18 49m-long Littoral Manoeuvre Vessels-Medium (LMV-M) was being accelerated.
The first LMV-M under Project Land 8710 Phase 1A will now be ready by 2026 with the AU$2 billion (US$1.3 billion) project set
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![RTX confirms US Marine Corps and US Navy acquire Hadalus UUV]()
RTX confirms US Marine Corps and US Navy acquire Hadalus UUV
RTX told Shephard that the Hadalus UUV has been procured by the US Marine Corps and the Office of Naval Research for operational experimentation as the company prepares additional demonstrations with the US Navy, NATO and AUKUS partners.
-
![US Navy $76.6bn award provides stability for submarine production]()
US Navy $76.6bn award provides stability for submarine production
The US Department of War’s US$76.6 billion Columbia-and Virginia-class submarine contract gives industry demand certainty as Washington seeks to rebuild its shipbuilding base.
-
![Dreadnought Phase 4 opens £2.5 billion supply chain opportunity]()
Dreadnought Phase 4 opens £2.5 billion supply chain opportunity
The UK government’s £8.4 billion Dreadnought Phase 4 investment sets aside £2.5 billion for the wider submarine supply chain, opening new work beyond BAE Systems’ prime contract.
