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LAND 8710 Amphibious Vehicle Phase 1 Capability Element 2 (CE2)

The LCM-8 and LARC-V will be replaced through Project LAND 8170 Phase 1 CE1 and CE2 respectively. The Commonwealth has a requirement to replace the existing fleet of Lighter, Amphibious Resupply, Cargo 5 ton (LARC-V) amphibians currently serving with the Australian Army with a new Amphibious Vehicle (AV). This Invitation to Register (ITR) is seeking respondents to demonstrate their willingness, capacity and capability to provide an AV with an Australian Design and Australian Build.

The LARC-V is a legacy platform that was acquired during the 1960s. Capable of carrying roughly 4 tonnes of cargo at a speed of around 48 kilometres/hour on land or 8.5 knots on water, the LARC-V is a useful amphibious vehicle. It provides a unique logistics over the shore capability, able to move supplies inland from waiting ships rather than solely depositing them onto a beach or river bank. However, just like the LCM-8, its downfall comes from a slow speed when waterborne, a lack of protection for troops using the craft for transportation, and the limited number of craft available for use.

Delivery will depend on resultant contract however Initial Operating Capability was expected by 2026. In February 2021, Australian Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price said that the country would invest up to $610.6m (A$800m). Austal was competing with Navantia and Rheinmetall Defence team to deliver next-generation amphibious capabilities for the ADF.

The Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG) informed Navantia Australia that it has not been down selected for the Commonwealth government’s LAND 8710 (Phase 1) Capability Element 2 (CE2) project — the $800 million program to develop a new amphibious vehicle (AV) to replace the Army’s Lighter, Amphibious Resupply, Cargo – 5 tonne vehicle (LARC-V).

ASX-listed shipbuilding giant Austal remained in the running for LAND 8710 Phase 1 CE2. The shipbuilding company submitted a joint bid with Rheinmetall Defence Australia, announced in June 2021 at the annual Land Forces conference. The companies had planned to combine their resources to develop a “fast, formidable and future-proof” amphibious vehicle design, leveraging Navantia’s naval shipbuilding experience and Rheinmetall’s logistics vehicle manufacturing capability.