Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia

Australian Helicopter Platform Ship Launched

19 February 2011

The hull of the first of two amphipious ships (called LHD, or helicopter landing docks) has been launched in Spain, heralding a new era of naval aviation and amphibious operations.

LHD01's hull launch was held at the Navantia dockyards at Ferrol in northern Spain where the ship will undergo further work before being transferred to Williamstown, Melbourne, for fit-out.

The ships, to be named Canberra and Adelaide, will be the largest ever operated by the RAN, and will be capable of operating up to eight helicopters, plus carry troops and equipment for all three Services.
First of class, HMAS Canberra (LHD01) will arrive in Victoria next year where it will be fitted out before being accepted into service in 2014 with sister ship HMAS Adelaide (LHD02) to follow the year after.

The Australian Government announced the new ships in 2007 when it said the two 27,000 tonne Navantia landing (LHD) ships would be built at a cost of about $3 billion.

The philosophy behind the purchase was to add significantly to Australia's military capability and to also help with disaster relief. The ships would be able to land more than 1,000 personnel along with their vehicles - the M1 Abrams tanks, artillery and supplies, and use helicopters and water craft integrated with amphibious operations.

About a quarter of the construction work on the landing ships will take place in Australia, generating about 600 jobs.

The superstructure would be constructed and the majority of the fitout would be completed in Melbourne with an estimated value of about $500 million. The majority of the combat system design and integration work would take place in Adelaide and the value of that work would be up to about $100 million.

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