Navantia has delivered the final batch of four landing helicopter docks (LHD) landing craft (LLCs) to the Commonwealth in Sydney, Australia.
Built as part of a contract signed on 16 December 2011, the four new vessels will be commissioned to the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO)and used by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
The contract involved constructing 12 LLCs, which have undergone testing in Cádiz, Spain, and are currently in operational service with the RAN.
Based on vessels designed for the Spanish Navy between 2006 and 2008, the new 23.30m-long LLCs are powered by two MAN 809kW engines and two waterjet propellers.
At 6.40m wide and 2.80m deep, they provide a maximum cruising speed of more than 20k and a 190nm range.
The crafts will operate with the new Canberra-class LHD amphibious assault vessels, HMAS Canberra and HMAS Adelaide.
Canberra has been commissioned into the RAN, while Adelaide is due to be commissioned in Sydney on 4 December.
Since 2007, Navantia has been working in three programmes for the Australian Defence Force, namely the air warfare destroyers (AWDs), LHDs, and LLCs.
Currently, the company is engaged in the Sea 1654 Phase III maritime operational support capability tender process, and is working in a collaborative environment in the SEA 5000 future frigate programme and the SEA 1180 offshore patrol vessels project.
Image: Officials during handing over of LLCs to Australia. Photo: courtesy of Navantia.
