Rheinmetall has begun local production of the Australian Defence Force’s future Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicles (CRVs) at Redbank in Ipswich, Queensland.
The project is part of a 5.2-billion Australian dollar ($3.5 billion) Land 400 Phase 2 contract to produce 211 Boxer CRVs for the service.
It is led by Rheinmetall Defence Australia’s Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE).
The Australian Army announced the Boxer CRV’s initial operational capability in October last year after a series of trials and live demonstrations.
The milestone was followed by the transfer of technology and skills to Rheinmetall Australia’s workforce.
Contribution to Queensland’s Economy
To date, MILVEHCOE has produced 600 jobs for Queensland-based personnel and more at local supply chains.
The Ipswich facility is expected to generate over 1 billion Australian dollars ($670 million) for the state’s economy in its first 10 years of operation.
“The facility is now the most advanced military vehicle manufacturing facility in Australia,” Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk stated.
“We expect that hundreds of additional jobs will be created should Rheinmetall be successful for Phase 3. These are the highly skilled, knowledge-based jobs of the future that the government has been working hard to bring to Queensland.”
“Our partnership’s continuing success provides long-term certainty to the current workforce, and greater opportunities through the entire supply chain which impacts many SMEs right across Queensland.”
Other Projects at Rheinmetall MILVEHCOE
Australia is negotiating with Germany to supply its army with Boxers by leveraging Rheinmetall’s MILVEHCOE capability.
Meanwhile, the firm was shortlisted for the Land 400 Phase 3 project to purchase hundreds of Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicles to replace the Australian military’s M113AS4 armored personnel carrier fleet.
“Rheinmetall has taken a long-term partnership approach to working in Australia, and we’re proud to be the largest provider of Military vehicles to the Australian Defence Force,” Rheinmetall Defence Australia Managing Director Nathan Poyner said.
“We have an operational facility, the staff in place and we have established real sovereign capabilities including armour production and electronics manufacturing for the Australian Defence Force; all of which happens right here in Queensland.”
