Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates 2.0

[K.I.]

U.S Marine Corps Selects Design for New LSM Landing Ships - Naval News

Lo and behold, the US has selected the Damen LST100 for their landing ship. Austal will love that outcome. They want 35 of them.

Shock horror. I wonder how much they will ruin it by Americanising and Navseaing it.

As a late edit, the Americans apparently want to start building in 2026 with the first in service in 2029. NAVSEA has promised not to meddle with the specification. Maybe they will have them before us.

Timeframes they're talking is minimal change, because the Marines need the heavy lift capability now.
If Austal play their cards right they could win the builds for both the RAN+USN, this could end up being their bread & butter for the next decade.
Pacific standard heavy lift, now we just need to get the USN onboard with the Mogami...

 

[devo99]

now we just need to get the USN onboard with the Mogami...

Can't see the slightest chance of that happening. From what I can tell the issue with Constellation has been seen more as the design being too different from the standards than the standards being too different to the design. If NAVSEA butchered FREMM I'd hate to see what they'd do to a ship with the reported characteristics of Mogami.

 

[devo99]

On a more RAN related topic there's going to be another International Fleet Review at the end of March next year as per CoN's end of year address. Be sure to get along if possible the last one was very enjoyable.

 

[StingrayOZ]

Can't see the slightest chance of that happening. From what I can tell the issue with Constellation has been seen more as the design being too different from the standards than the standards being too different to the design. If NAVSEA butchered FREMM I'd hate to see what they'd do to a ship with the reported characteristics of Mogami.

The Japanese are I think smart enough to not push the option either. We saw this with the sub offering. They don't want to change their world to meet a customers requirements, that aren't that interested in overseas sales to jump straight into Chaos. The Japanese and Mogami have their hands full with Japanese orders and builds, and Australian orders and builds, throwing a huge US project in their with the current administration and huge pressure would just be horrendous. Bad for Australia and Japan, and probably the US.

The nation security cutter could be an emergency option. They cancelled the last ship this year. They could start pushing out new ships quite quickly potentially. The original proposal was with a 76mm gun, 12 cell VLS, two quad launchers. 4,600t. Its an American equiv of a Flight I Mogami. It would be cheaper and quicker than a constellation. I suspect something like this. It could be followed by a slight expanded flight II like with the upgraded mogami.

On a more RAN related topic there's going to be another International Fleet Review at the end of March next year as per CoN's end of year address. Be sure to get along if possible the last one was very enjoyable.

Should be a big one for the 125 year anniversary, king and queen attending, I imagine by then there will likely be a significant turnout from local allies. Bit of a friendly show of support. The chinese fleet is getting very blue watery.

 

[koxinga]

If Austal play their cards right they could win the builds for both the RAN+USN, this could end up being their bread & butter for the next decade.
Pacific standard heavy lift, now we just need to get the USN onboard with the Mogami...

The USN/NAVSEA bought the rights to build them locally in the US. Their intentions are to build this state side.

In my best Trump voice: Why should US tax dollars go to Austal? This attitude is clearly another attempt of a so-called ally trying to take away jobs from hardworking Amercian shipyard workers and stealing our tax dollars! If Austal wants the deal, they better invest in an American shipyard and hire American workers!

LST-100 Design (Medium Landing Ship (LSM) Block 1)

On 7/31/25 Naval Sea Systems Command issued Justification N0002425C2414 for LST-100 Design (Medium Landing Ship (LSM) Block 1)

www.highergov.com

Background
The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) is issuing a sole source contract to Damen Naval for the procurement of the Technical Data Package (TDP) and licensing agreement for the LST-100 design. This action supports future Medium Landing Ship (LSM) Block 1 procurements. The contract aims to fulfill the Navy's requirement for multiple non-developmental landing ships, leveraging an existing design to expedite delivery and reduce risks associated with new shipbuilding programs. Damen Naval, based in Vlissingen, The Netherlands, is the sole owner of the LST-100 design.

Work Details
The proposed contract will procure the TDP and establish a licensing agreement for the LST-100 design, which includes:
- Complete 'as-built' configuration data that establishes the design baseline for multiple non-developmental landing ships.
- Licensing agreement allowing use of the LST-100 design across multiple shipyards to expedite delivery.
- Focus on acquiring existing design data rather than developing a new ship design.
This acquisition is funded through Fiscal Year 2025 Shipbuilding and Conversion, Navy (SCN) appropriations.

Place of Performance
The place of performance includes various shipyards where the landing ships will be constructed.

 

[thatsamguy]

The USN/NAVSEA bought the rights to build them locally in the US. Their intentions are to build this state side.
...
If Austal wants the deal, they better invest in an American shipyard and hire American workers!

Reminder: Austal USA is a thing, with US shipyard in Mobile currently building multiple different ship classes including the LCS Independence class, SSN modules and more.

 

[Reptilia]

Reminder: Austal USA is a thing, with US shipyard in Mobile currently building multiple different ship classes including the LCS Independence class, SSN modules and more.

Programs that remain

Up to 12 Landing craft utility -end 2030
3 Towing/Salvage/Rescue (cut from 5) -end 2028
Up to 11 Heritage class cutters (3 ordered) <2034
Up to 7 Ocean surveillance ships <2034
1xExpeditionary Fast Transport -end 2026
3xExpeditionary Medical ship -end 2028
SSN and SSBN modules

Certainly space to begin a new program from 2027

 

[koxinga]

Reminder: Austal USA is a thing, with US shipyard in Mobile currently building multiple different ship classes including the LCS Independence class, SSN modules and more.

That's Great, as long as they don't build it in Australia!