Calepin des entreprises international 2026 VA.pdf — page 25

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AUSTAL
STRATEGIC HIGHLIGHTS
Business trends
	
 Austal posted revenues of A$ 1,823 million (€1,086 million) during fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30th), up 
24.1% year-on-year in local currency. Growth was driven by shipbuilding activities, whereas revenues from 
maintenance and support services grew at a slower pace. Austal delivered six naval vessels during the fiscal 
year: three Guardian-class and two Evolved Cape-class patrol boats by Austal Australia, and one EPF vessel 
by Austal USA.
	
 In the United States, construction work is ongoing at the shipyard in Mobile, Alabama to expand capacity, 
particularly to produce submarine equipment. The creation of more than 2,000 jobs is expected.
	
 Already holding a 10% stake in Austal, South Korean group Hanwha intends to increase its stake to 19.9%. 
The transaction will be subject to approval by the Australian and U.S. authorities.
Home market
	
 In Australia, the group is a long-standing supplier of patrol boats (Cape and Guardian programmes) to the 
Australian Border Force and the Royal Australian Navy. In December 2024, the Australian government ordered 
two additional Evolved Cape-class patrol boats for A$ 137 million (€83 million), bringing the programme to 
12 units. The ninth Evolved Cape-class ship was delivered in September 2025 and two Guardian-class patrol 
boats are under construction.
	
 The agreement committed to at the end of 2023 with the Australian government, known as the SSA (Strategic 
Shipbuilding Agreement), was officially signed in August 2025. It secures the group’s participation in future 
federal naval defence programmes, which include the supply of 26 landing craft, of which 18 LC-Ms (Landing 
Craft-Medium) and 8 LC-Hs (Landing Craft-Heavy), and 6 naval drones (Large Optionally Crewed Vessels). 
Australia also selected Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (over tkMS) for its programme to acquire 11 multi-purpose 
frigates (Mogami-class), 8 of which will be built locally by Austal.
Export markets
	
 Austal generated 78% of its revenues from exports during fiscal year 2025. The United States is by far the 
group’s largest market, as a major supplier to the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard. Austal USA delivered the 
last Independence-class LCS frigate to the U.S. Navy in July 2025 and will continue to provide maintenance 
and support services for the 19 ships in the fleet.
	
 The U.S. Navy’s EPF transport ship programme is also nearing completion, with the last unit currently under 
construction. It will be followed by the EMS (Expeditionary Medical Ship) programme, comprising three units 
with enhanced medical capabilities. Their construction is scheduled to begin during the 2026 fiscal year.
	
 Austal USA launched the first Navajo-class T-ATS ship in June 2025. Faced with losses on this programme, the 
first one requiring the production of ships made entirely of steel, the group reached an agreement in October 
2025 with the U.S. Navy to supply only three ships (already under construction) out of the five originally planned.
	
 Austal USA launched the first LCU 1700-class craft in August 2025. The programme could include up to 
12 units, three of which are under construction.
	
 In the summer of 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard exercised two options for the Heritage-class Offshore Patrol 
Cutter (OPC) programme, worth a total of $587 million (€502 million) for the construction of the second vessel 
and initial work on the production of the next four units (numbered 3 to 6). The programme could include up to 
11 patrol boats, for a potential total of $3.3 billion (€3.1 billion).
	
 Austal USA could also produce up to seven T-AGOS Ocean Surveillance ships for the U.S. Navy. Delivery of 
the first unit is scheduled for 2031.
Technology and Innovation
	
 Austal’s main areas of innovation focus on naval drones, additive manufacturing (including through the 
U.S. Navy’s centre of excellence in Danville, Virginia) and the digitisation of production processes.