Australian arms company NIOA has begun producing 40,000 rounds of Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV) training ammunition at its factory in Benalla, Victoria.
The move comes after Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy announced an investment of $220-million Australian dollars ($139 million) to boost local munitions production.
The medium caliber line is a joint investment with Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions.
Australia Embraces Local
The decision to bolster local ammunition production comes as part of the country’s latest Defence Strategic Review, where sustainable growth and retention of highly-skilled defense personnel are top priorities.
“Improving Australia’s ability to manufacture the munitions our defence force needs is not only critical to meeting the strategic challenges we face as a nation, it will also support local industry and well-paid, skilled local jobs,” Conroy said.
NIOA Australia CEO Ben James added that the company’s $12-million Australian dollar ($7.5 million) investment in the Benalla factory reflects its commitment to deliver sovereign capability.
“We have a highly qualified and professional team at Benalla who have worked exceptionally hard to reach this key milestone in sovereign munitions manufacture.”
The strategic review also recommended replenishing Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance stocks to establish sovereign missile and munition manufacturing facilities in Australia.
The Future CRV Fleet
The Boxer CRVs are manufactured by Rheinmetall in Queensland as part of a 5.2-billion Australian dollar ($3.5 billion) deal with the Department of Defence to produce 211 of the armored vehicles.
The vehicles are slated to replace the army’s 257 Australian Light Armored Vehicle fleet, with the force completing the acquisition by 2027.
