Germany has approved the procurement of over 100 Boxer multirole armored fighting vehicles from Australia.
The project, first announced in 2023, will supply weapon carrier variants manufactured by mobility developer Rheinmetall at its Redbank facility in Queensland.
Canberra wrote that the systems ordered under this tranche would be shipped to the German Army.
Based on details revealed last year, the initiative’s overall budget could potentially increase to 3 billion Australian dollars ($2 billion), with the first vehicles set to arrive in Berlin as early as 2024.
Rheinmetall confirmed negotiations to initiate the Australia-based production of the German Boxers in April 2023.
Retaining Economic Growth, Military Partnership
Canberra said that the latest agreement with Berlin will greatly support the Australian defense industry by generating more than 1 billion Australian dollars ($652 million) for the local economy.
The government added that the 100-Boxer order now supports more than 600 jobs in Queensland alone.
“I am pleased to announce the signing of the biggest defence export agreement in Australia’s history,” Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles stated.
“The build and export of Boxer Heavy Weapon Carrier vehicles to the German Army highlights a strengthening of the relationship between our two countries.”
“The Albanese Government is not only committed to bolstering our nation’s growing defence industry, technology and talent, but also supporting ongoing economic prosperity in the region.”
The Boxer
The Boxer was introduced in 2011 for multiple military users. Since its employment, the system has been leveraged for major defense operations such as the NATO multinational Rapid Response Force and the war in Afghanistan.
The platform is offered in variants with speeds from 45 to 103 kilometers (28 to 64 miles) per hour.
It is powered by 720 to 1,200-horsepower MTU Friedrichshafen engines for a range of up to 1,000 kilometers (620 miles).
A Boxer can be armed with light and heavy machine guns, a remote weapon station, a turret cannon, grenade launchers, guided missiles, and anti-tank missiles.
In February, the Australian Army gathered feedback from warfighters to improve the design of upcoming Boxer vehicles ordered in parallel with the German fleet.
