The Australian government will gift two recently decommissioned Balikpapan class Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) vessels to the Philippines, Minister for Defence Kevin Andrews has announced.
The former Royal Australian Navy (RAN) vessels Tarakan and Brunei will be given to the Philippine Navy, having been fitted with new safety and navigation equipment, along with a package of spare parts. The LCHs will be refitted and ready for handover by May.
“The Landing Craft will greatly improve the Philippines’ ability to respond to natural disasters by enabling heavy equipment and large amounts of aid to be moved to affected areas,” Minister Andrews stated.
The LCH fleet was decommissioned in November 2014. The Philippines is considering purchasing the LCHs Balikpapan, Betano and Wewak, which were decommissioned in December 2012.