Australia Selects Damen's LST100 Design for New Landing Craft Heavy Fleet.

According to information published by the Australian DoD on November 22, 2024, the Albanese Government has announced the selection of Damen Shipyards Group's Landing Ship Transport 100 (LST100) as the preferred design for the Australian Defence Force's (ADF) Landing Craft Heavy program.
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Damen’s LST100 chosen to redefine Australia’s littoral defence strategy. (Picture source: Damen)

The acquisition of eight Landing Craft Heavy vessels forms a cornerstone of the Albanese Government’s National Defence Strategy, which emphasizes enhancing littoral manoeuvre and long-range strike capabilities. These vessels are tailored to support the Australian Army’s transition towards a structure prioritizing denial strategies in littoral environments. This includes the ability to deploy and sustain land forces equipped with long-range land and maritime strike assets.

The LST100 design offers a platform for operations ranging from troop deployment and logistics support to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. With a 3,900-tonne displacement, the 100-meter-long and 16-meter-wide vessel can carry over 500 tonnes of military vehicles and equipment. It is capable of transporting a combination of six Abrams tanks, 11 Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles, or 26 HIMARS.

Construction is slated to begin in 2026, contributing to the Integrated Investment Program (2024–34). The Damen LST100 design is a highly capable vessel equipped with advanced self-defence systems and Australian military communications. The vessel’s interoperability with other maritime assets ensures a seamless operational spectrum, whether for military manoeuvres or civilian missions. The Landing Craft Heavy fleet will complement existing amphibious capabilities, including Landing Craft Medium and other amphibious vehicles.

Currently, the ADF relies on Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Docks (LHDs) as the centerpiece of its amphibious fleet. These vessels, HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide, are the largest in the Royal Australian Navy and are designed for versatile operations, ranging from combat missions to humanitarian assistance. Supporting these large vessels are the LCM-8 landing craft, which are effective for moving troops and equipment from ship to shore but are constrained by limited payload capacity and operational range.

The introduction of the LST100 represents a substantial leap forward. With a displacement of 3,900 tonnes and a length of 100 meters, it provides greater range and endurance than the smaller LCM-8s, allowing it to operate more effectively over extended distances. It also offers unmatched payload capacity, capable of carrying over 500 tonnes of military equipment, including heavy assets such as Abrams tanks, Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles, and HIMARS. This enhanced capacity and flexibility enable the LST100 to support more robust and diverse amphibious operations.