Australia to advance army amphibious assets
The Australian Army is using landing craft and amphibian vehicles that are 50 years old. The time has come to overhaul the fleet.
Australia has launched a quest, worth up to A$800 million ($611 million), to find new amphibious vehicles and landing craft ‘with enhanced speed and protection’ to equip its army.
The Army Littoral Manoeuvre - Light programme falls under Project Land 8710 Phase 1. Two new types of watercraft will provide shore-to-shore, ship-to-shore and over-the-shore capabilities in littoral and riverine environments.
Firstly, the Independent Landing Craft will replace existing LCM-8 vessels used by the Australian Army. Their detailed design, build, maintenance and support will all come from domestic sources.
Shephard previously reported that the army’s 15 LCM-8 landing craft, dating from the Vietnam War
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