Austal has begun construction of the Australian Army's landing craft heavy (LCH) fleet in Western Australia.
The Australian Government said the programme was on schedule. Construction of the landing craft medium (LCM) fleet began on September 29, and the two programmes are now proceeding in parallel.
Austal is building eight LCHs under an approximately AU$4 billion (US$2.7 billion) contract and 18 LCMs under an AU$1.029 billion (US$700 million) design-and-build contract. Both vessel types are being delivered through Austal Defence Shipbuilding Australia under the Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement.
The LCH is based on an existing design, one example of which is in service with the Nigerian Navy. Each Australian LCH will measure approximately 100 metres long and 16 metres wide and will have a displacement of 3,900 to 4,000 tonnes.
Each vessel will be able to carry more than 200 toops plus six M1A2SEP3 Abrams main battle tanks or nine Redback infantry fighting vehicles.
The final LCH is scheduled for delivery in 2038.