Japan Marine Corporation and British ship design company BMT Group announced on February 27th that they have signed a contract with the Japan Defense Equipment Agency to build a new type of landing craft for the Self Defense Forces - the "Mobile Landing Craft". Mobile landing craft is a transport boat used to transport Self Defense Force vehicles and personnel to outlying islands, and is an important equipment for deploying troops on small islands without docks or other facilities. It is reported that this mobile landing craft adopts the "Kaimen Crocodile Japan" fast landing craft model designed and built in collaboration with two companies. The landing craft has a total length of about 30 meters and a width of about 8 meters, and can transport 2 heavy vehicles with a sailing speed of over 20 knots. Its biggest feature lies in its design, with the bow and stern adopting three body and single body structures respectively, and the middle transitioning along the hull. This special hull structure has the following advantages: large deck size for loading vehicles, good high-speed performance, stable navigation, and convenient operation on shallow waters. The first mobile landing craft will be delivered to the Self Defense Force in 2026, and a total of four mobile landing craft will be in service by 2027. The joint force of the Land, Sea and Air Self Defense Forces, the Self Defense Force Maritime Transport Group, is responsible for operating the mobile landing craft. (New Society)