Australian engineering firm Birdon has secured a A$125 million deal to build new amphibious vehicles for the Australian Army.
The family-owned company already supplies both the U.S. Army and the Australian Army with specialist vehicles including bridging units, and is also building a prototype landing craft for the Australian Army.
As per a recent press statement, the firm revealed it has now also been awarded a contract for one prototype and a further 15 Amphibious Vehicles – Logistics (AV-L) platforms for domestic forces.
The new AV-L vehicles will be constructed in New South Wales at Birdon’s shipyard in Port Macquarie, about 200 miles north of Sydney.
Calling the development “a major milestone in the Land 8710 Littoral Manoeuvre Programme” it noted: “This new fleet of revolutionary amphibious vehicles will replace the Army’s ageing Lighter Amphibious Resupply Cargo vehicle (LARC-V), significantly enhancing the Australian Defence Force’s amphibious capabilities with improved speed, safety, reliability and performance.”
The new AV-L platform is designed to be able to be launched in deep water and transition to surf zones and beach environments. It features an integrated crane for lifting modular cargo payloads, and anti-slip transmission systems.
The statement added: “It is built to perform in extreme humidity, high temperatures, rough surf zones, and different beach landing zones, ensuring operational readiness in diverse terrains and climates.
“The vehicle’s advanced propulsion and steering systems combine water jet and dynamic drive train technologies, enabling seamless transitions between marsh, clay, and surf environments. Enhanced in-water manoeuvrability, improved speed, and responsive reversing performance allow for agile operations, including rapid rescues in emergency scenarios.”
Birdon CEO Jamie Bruce added: “The project reflects Birdon’s commitment to delivering Defence-ready solutions tailored to Australia’s unique operating environments.”
- You can read more details on the Birdon website