Australia approves final amphibious ship designs

The Australian government has approved the first stage of a $2 billion LHD Amphibious Ships project that will provide the Royal Australian Navy with two new multi-purpose ships that would have air support, amphibious assault, transport and command centre roles. They will replace the Navy’s two existing Kanimbla-Class LPAs (HMAS Kanimbla and HMAS Manoora) from about 2010, significantly upgrading Australia’s force projection capabilities.

The government has now given first pass approval to the project and committed $29.8 million towards the Design Development Phase. The finalist ship designs include Spain’s Navantia designed new LHD ship at approximately 27,000 tonnes and France’s Armaris designed Mistral-class LHD ships with modifications for additional troop carrying capability, at approximately 22,000 tonnes.

Each ship will preferably have the ability to transport up to 1000 personnel, have six helicopter landing spots and provision for a mix of troop lift and armed reconnaissance helicopters. It will also be able to transport up to 150 vehicles including the new M1A1 Abrams tanks and armored vehicles. Finally, each ship will be equipped with medical facilities, including two operating theaters and a hospital ward.

Australia’s selection tradeoffs include the fact that the Navantia LHD would have a greater carrying capacity, but construction of the first ship has only just started in Spain. In comparison, the French Aramis-Class ship has slightly less carrying capacity but has been built and is undertaking its final tests with the French Navy. A number of observers believe the Navantia design has a slight edge at this point in the competition. Australian shipbuilders will be invited to tender for either or both of two designs, and a ?Request for Tender? will be released to the Australian shipbuilding industry in the second quarter of 2006. Nonetheless, overseas build options will also be considered since the Australian shipbuilding industry will need to demonstrate it can deliver the project at a competitive price.