Australian-owned maritime engineering company Birdon has signed a $125 million contract with the Australian Government to design and build one prototype and 15 Amphibious Vehicles – Logistics (AV-L) for the Australian Army, under the Land 8710 Littoral Manoeuvre Program.
According to Birdon, the new fleet will replace the Army’s existing Lighter Amphibious Resupply Cargo vehicles (LARC-V), which have been in service for decades.
In a media release, the company said the AV-L vehicles are intended to enhance the Australian Defence Force’s amphibious capability by improving speed, safety, reliability and overall performance in both land and maritime environments.
Birdon chief executive officer Jamie Bruce said the contract represented a significant step for the company and for Australia’s defence industry.
“The project reflects Birdon’s commitment to delivering Defence-ready solutions tailored to Australia’s unique operating environments,” Bruce said. “It builds on our proven expertise in integrated design, engineering, logistics, and construction.”
Birdon said the AV-L design incorporates technologies that allow the vehicle to operate as a deep-sea vessel while also complying with Australian road safety standards for on-land use.
The company said the vehicles are engineered to handle surf zone transitions and operate in conditions including high humidity, elevated temperatures and corrosive saltwater.
According to the company, the vehicles combine water jet propulsion with dynamic drive train systems to enable movement across marsh, clay and surf environments.
Birdon said this is intended to improve in-water manoeuvrability and reversing performance, including during emergency operations such as rescues.
Operator safety has been a focus of the design, Birdon said, with features including automated detection of wheel bogging and slipping, shock-absorbing seating, front and rear steering, automatic tyre inflation and self-levelling suspension.
The company said these systems are designed to reduce fatigue and improve safety in high-risk conditions.
Birdon said the AV-L also includes a modular payload system with a deck crane, fire safety systems and a reverse flush system to clear debris from jet intakes, making the vehicle suitable for a range of defence and humanitarian tasks.
“All AV-L vehicles will be constructed at Birdon’s shipbuilding yard in Port Macquarie on the NSW Mid North Coast,” the company said.
Bruce added the project would support local industry development and described the AV-L contract as strengthening Australia’s sovereign defence capability while highlighting Birdon’s expertise in innovative maritime and automotive engineering.
Birdon said the project is expected to support job creation and skills development in regional Australia through its ongoing investment in the maritime engineering and defence sectors.
