Following a type decision back in 2016, Munich-based ARTEC GmbH (a development and manufacturing consortium of Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann) has now been commissioned by the Australian government to supply 211 Boxer wheeled infantry fighting vehicles and infantry fighting vehicles.
A large proportion of the EUR 2.1 billion order will be “processed” directly in Australia – with this value-added argument, ARTEC has been able to compete with rivals such as BAE Systems and Finland’s Patria and Finland’s Patria. According to the Australian procurement authority, the Boxer also scored points with its eight-wheeled chassis, on which up to nine interchangeable mission modules can be mounted. In addition to the vehicles, the Australian procurement program “LAND 400 Phase 2” (total value 3.4 billion euros) also includes other products from around 40 local suppliers – including remote-controlled weapon stations from supplier EOS and the armoured reconnaissance vehicle variant, which is equipped with a so-called “Lance turret” with a 30 mm cannon (see image).
Here for further reports about Rheinmetall and here to further reports on Krauss-Maffei Wegmann.
