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World
Navy Force News - Australia |
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| Royal
Australian Navy to get 12 landing crafts from Navantia |
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The
Australian government has approved the purchase of 12 landing crafts
from Spanish shipbuilder Navantia for the navy's Canberra class landing
helicopter dock ships. The LCM-1E landing crafts are the same type used
by the Spanish Navy. With a length of 23.3 meters and a breadth of 6.4
meters they can reach 20 knots and have a range of 190 miles.
Navantia, which has headquarters in Spain, is building the hulls for
the LHDs and the medium-sized, fast landing craft will be purpose-built
for these ships.
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LCM-1E landing
crafts
(picture: Navantia)
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The watercraft will enable transport
of troops and equipment from the LHDs to shore, including locations where
there are no fixed port facilities.
The delivery of the first batch of four watercraft will be coordinated
with the delivery of the first LHD, expected in 2014. Construction of
the LHDs is under way in Spain and Australia. |
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Camberra
class LHD
(picture: Navantia)
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The LHDs are 754.5
feet long and can carry a combined armed battlegroup of more than
1,000 personnel, 100 armored vehicles and 12 helicopters.
The government has
also approved enhancements to information and communications technology
infrastructure at Headquarters Joint Operations Command as well as
software upgrades to better support military planning.
The enhanced command and control system will allow better communication
between operations staff and troops, particularly commanders and Special
Forces.
The ministers said the Department of Defense would purchase commercial
off-the-shelf hardware and software products, which would be integrated
to meet requirements.
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