Australia has Rheinmetall an order for the production of 123 heavy infantry fighting vehicles, of which more than 100 will be produced in Australia for the Bundeswehr and are to be exported to Germany. This is Australia’s largest military export to the Federal Republic of Germany.
The procurement of the heavy infantry weapon carrier is based on an intergovernmental agreement between the German side and Australia. Rheinmetall had signed the contract with the German procurement authority, which has a total volume of 2.7 billion euros including maintenance and repair, after the order was placed in March. The corresponding production order has now been placed in Australia. Nathan Poyner, Managing Director of Rheinmetall Defence Australia, confirmed that the order is the largest Australian arms export to Germany to date. “Delivery is scheduled to begin in 2025,” Poyner added.
The “Heavy Infantry Weapons Carrier” is based on the Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV) of the Australian Army. The Boxer is a modern, armored 8×8 vehicle that is in service with armies around the world. It offers enhanced crew protection and combines a high level of firepower and mobility for international operations, especially in peacekeeping missions, up to high intensity combat. The CRV is equipped with a reconnaissance module that includes the Lance two-person digital turret; the first manned medium-caliber turret to enter service on the Boxer platform. The Boxers are produced at Rheinmetall’s military vehicle center of excellence in Redbank, South East Queensland. There, more than 650 employees manufacture vehicles, armor and electronics for Australia and global partners. “We are grateful to be able to supply the ‘Heavy Infantry Weapon Carrier’, an essential element of the Army’s new ‘Medium Forces’ category,” said Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger in an initial reaction. “We are pooling the expertise and capabilities of our Australian MILVECOE colleagues from our global Rheinmetall network to provide the German Army with the combat vehicles it needs as quickly as possible. This will further deepen the defense relationship between Australia and Germany and strengthen Australia’s sustainable sovereign defense capability.” https://militaeraktuell.at/wir-schreiben-gerade-geschichte/ Papperger continued: “We welcome the close partnership between Australia and Germany in the area of strategic defense as the two nations work together to enhance global security. The German Boxer program in Australia has been made possible by Rheinmetall’s long-term Australian investment in product development and advanced manufacturing.” In addition to the 211 vehicles ordered as part of Australia’s Land 400 Phase 2 project – 133 of which are the CRV variant with the manned digital Lance turret – Rheinmetall also supports the Australian Army’s HX truck fleet, which comprises more than 2,900 vehicles. The company also supplies the Multi-Ammunition Soft-Kill System (MASS) to the Royal Australian Navy, develops and supports training systems for the military sector and has delivered more than 200 HX trucks to the New Zealand armed forces.
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