Australia, Aug. 28 -- Austal Limited announced the signing of a Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia and Austal Defence Shipbuilding Australia, a wholly owned subsidiary of Austal Limited.The agreement appoints Austal Defence Australia as the Commonwealth's strategic shipbuilder for Tier 2 surface combatants at Henderson, Western Australia.The SSA sets a framework under which Austal Defence Australia will design, construct, integrate and deliver programs beginning with the LAND8710 Landing Craft Medium (LCM) and Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) projects for the Australian Army.Subject to final contractual negotiations, the programs are expected to deliver 18 x LCMs over 8 years (contract finalisation expected Q1 F...