Rheinmetall has signed a 2.7-billion euro ($3 billion) deal to supply the German Armed Forces with up to 123 Heavy Weapon Carriers.
The 8×8 carriers will replace the force’s Wiesel tracked vehicles, taking on the role of direct tactical fire support.
They will be based on Rheinmetall’s Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV) and will be equipped with an MK30-2 ABM automatic cannon as its main weapon. Additionally, they will be fitted with anti-tank defense through the Multi-Role Guided Missile System.
The carriers will be a main component of the Bundeswehr’s newly formed “medium forces,” which will respond to long-distance deployments focusing on national and allied defense.
Delivery for the vehicles is scheduled to begin in 2025.
Multinational Endeavor
Production for some of the new capabilities will take place at Rheinmetall’s Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence in the city of Redbank in Queensland, Australia, where the Australian Defence Forces’ CRVs are currently being produced.
“In order to be able to provide the Army with the required combat vehicles as quickly as possible, we are integrating not only our German but also the Australian sites in our Rheinmetall network,” Rheinmetall AG Executive Board Chairman Armin Papperger explained.
The program’s German-Australian cooperation was initiated in 2023 following a declaration of cooperation signed by Australian Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy and German Federal Ministry of Defence Parliamentary State Secretary Thomas Hitschler.
