Birdon to deliver amphibious vehicles under $125m Defence contract

AUSTRALIAN-owned maritime engineering company Birdon has signed a $125 million contract to design and build one prototype and 15 amphibious vehicles—logistics (AV-L) for the Australian Army.

This new fleet of amphibious vehicles is to replace the army’s older lighter amphibious resupply cargo vehicle (LARC-V), with improvements in speed, safety, reliability and performance.

Birdon chief executive Jamie Bruce said the AV-L contract strengthened Australia’s sovereign defence capability and showcased Birdon’s maritime innovation leadership.

“The project reflects Birdon’s commitment to delivering Defence-ready solutions tailored to Australia’s unique operating environments. It builds on our proven expertise in integrated design, engineering, logistics, and construction,” Mr Bruce said.

The AV-L design is said to integrate “cutting-edge technologies to deliver superior performance across both land and sea”.

It is engineered to operate as a deep-sea vessel capable of reliable surf zone transitions, while also meeting Australian road safety regulations.

It is also designed to withstand Australia’s harsh environmental conditions and perform in extreme humidity, high temperatures, rough surf zones, and different beach landing zones.

The vehicle’s “advanced propulsion and steering systems” are said to combine water jet and dynamic drive train technologies, enabling seamless transitions between marsh, clay, and surf environments.

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The AV-L is to include a modular payload system with a deck crane, advanced fire safety measures, and a reverse flush system to clear debris from the jet intake.

These features are expected to ensure the vehicle is not only mission-ready but also adaptable to a wide range of defence and humanitarian applications.

All AV-L vehicles are to be built at Birdon’s shipbuilding yard in Port Macquarie on the New South Wales mid-north coast.

“Coupled with Birdon’s ongoing investment in growing Australia’s maritime engineering and defence industries, the AV-L project will support local job creation and skills development in regional Australia,” a Birdon statement read.