The new LST100 heavy landing craft that is to be built for the army. Photo: supplied
The federal government is to spend $159 billion over 10 years and build 55 new vessels under plans to revitalise naval shipbuilding.
Its 2024 Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Plan details a 30-year construction timetable for projects, largely across South Australia and Western Australia, involving nuclear-powered submarines, warships and landing craft for the Army.
The Defence Department says the plan will create an intergenerational pipeline of naval construction projects that will support 8500 shipbuilding jobs by 2030 with another 20,000 jobs over 30 years for the nuclear submarine program.
Deputy PM and Defence Minister Richard Marles says the plan is all about keeping Australia safe.
“Through the most significant investment in maritime capability in Australia’s history, we will see generations of naval construction projects happen right here, with plans to construct and upgrade over 70 vessels across South Australia and Western Australia,” he said.
Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Minister Pat Conroy says the government’s record spending will deliver “a much bigger and more lethal” navy and army.
The government detailed its spending on growing a naval shipbuilding workforce through the new Maritime Workforce and Skills Council including:
- $1.5 billion on 500,000 Free TAFE and vocational training places;
- $250 million to train and retain a nuclear submarine workforce, including 4000 Commonwealth supported STEM university places;
- work with the SA Government on defence workforce skills.
The government is also upgrading the maritime industrial base with a new defence precinct in WA and a submarine construction yard in South Australia.
NEW LANDING CRAFT
Western Australian shipbuilders Damen Shipyards Group is to design a new heavy landing craft for the Army.
The government wants to create a shore landing (littoral) fleet which is expected to generate 1100 direct, and more than 2000 indirect, jobs.
The group’s Landing Ship Transport 100 (LST100) will join medium landing craft and amphibious vehicles.
The government says eight LST100 crafts will be built by Austal at the Henderson Shipyard in WA.
The LST100 vessel design features a 3900-tonne displacement, 100 metres long and 16 metres wide. Its operations will include troop landings and retrievals, logistics, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
The vessel will be capable of carrying more than 500 tonnes of military vehicles and equipment – it is intended to carry six Abrams Tanks,11 Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles or 26 HIMARS – and will be fitted with self-defence weapons systems and Australian military communications.
Construction of the first landing craft is due to start in 2026.
