Partnership to build new landing craft for Japan Self-Defence Forces

Design firm BMT and shipbuilder Japan Marine United (JMU) have been awarded a contract by Japan's Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) to design and build a new class of high-speed landing craft for the Japan Self-Defence Forces (JSDF).

Each craft in the series will have a length of approximately 30 metres, vehicle- and troop-carrying capability under a range of sea conditions, and a top speed of over 20 knots.

The future JSDF landing craft will also feature a prominent hybrid design combining the features of a trimaran with those of a conventional monohull vessel.

The design will deliver significantly enhanced seakeeping and stability when operating in high sea states and at high speed with a heavy payload, thus offering enhanced motions and minimal speed reduction in waves.

The design also makes the vessel suitable for shallow-water operation in both littoral and inland waterways. The trimaran bow has inherent stability to facilitate the safe and efficient delivery of troops and vehicles at unprepared beaches.

JMU also intends to mass-produce the landing craft for potential distribution to overseas customers beginning with those in Southeast Asia.