Austal, Damen partner to build LST 100 vessels for Australia

A computer-generated image of the LCH that will be constructed by Austal, based on the Damen LST 100 design. (Austal)

Austal has entered into an agreement with Dutch naval shipbuilder Damen to locally construct landing ship transport (LST) 100 vessels for the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

Damen announced on 3 March that under the arrangement the company will provide its LST 100 design and the required licences to Austal to build the vessels for the Australian Army at the Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia.

In February the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) awarded Austal a contract, valued approximately AUD4 billion (USD2.8 billion), to build eight landing craft heavy (LCH) vessels.

Australia selected Damen's LST 100 as the preferred design for the LCH programme in November 2024.

Under Austal's 15-year Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement, construction of the vessels is scheduled to begin in 2026, with the final craft planned for delivery in 2038.

According to Damen, the LST 100 design was selected based on its operational record and in-service credentials.

“An earlier model has already been constructed and delivered, and its performance has contributed to further international adoption, including selection by NAVSEA [Naval Sea Systems Command] for the United States Navy,” Damen said.

According to design specifications released by Damen, the LST 100 is a 100 m vessel with a displacement of 3,900 tonnes, a range of 4,000 n miles, and a speed of 15 kt. It has 1,020 m² of roll-on/roll-off vehicle/cargo space and a flight deck aft.

LST 100 is capable of transporting more than 500 tonnes of military vehicles and equipment, Damen said. The vessel is designed to support amphibious operations as well as deployment, sustainment, logistics movements, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions, the company added.