Canberra has decided to invest up to AUD800 million (USD610 million) to acquire new fleets of Australian-built amphibious vehicles and landing craft, Defence Minister Linda Reynolds announced on 4 February. Replacements will be sought under Project Land 8710 Phase 1 for the Australian Army's 58-tonne, in-service LCM-8 landing craft and LARC-V amphibious vehicles, the minister said in a statement. Two separate fleets are set to be procured, with deliveries of both capabilities anticipated from 2026. Numbers to be acquired have yet to be decided. The LCM-8 replacements will be larger, faster, and better protected to support Australian Defence Force (ADF) operations, said the minister. "They will allow Defence to quickly and effectively deploy both domestically and to our near region, as well as remain engaged with regional security partners and support humanitarian assistance to our neighbours in the Indo-Pacific," she added. Australian industry involvement is to be maximised throughout the design, construction, and sustainment phases of the project, according to Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price. By taking this approach the government is also encouraging potential export opportunities for Australian industry through the design and build of this new capability. An invitation to register for the LARC-V replacement programme was released to industry on 29 January and will close on 23 February. Sources told Janes that a request for tender for an 'Independent Landing Craft' will be released in the third quarter of 2021 and will close in the fourth quarter.
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