The Australian army announced plans Tuesday to phase out its littoral fleet in favor of a new line of amphibious landing craft. While the service's Lighter, Amphibious, Resupply, Cargo vehicle, or LARC-V, vessels are unlikely to change much, the Landing Craft Mechanized, Mark 8, or LCM-8, is "likely to change significantly" under a planned overhaul to the fleet, according to Australian officials.
The new vessel, the Independent Landing Craft, to replace the LCM-8, is expected to be significantly different.
Australian officials said they plan to work with industry partners on requests for proposal later this year, with the new vessels potentially introduced into service in 2026.
"The LCM-8 replacement will see a fundamental change to army littoral operations," DG Platforms Brigadier Jeremy King said Tuesday in a press release from Australia's Department of Defense....MORE
