Australians receive the first 25 Boxer CRV reconnaissance armored vehicles

Rheinmetall has now delivered the first 25 units of the Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV) to the Australian Army. The 8x8 wheeled reconnaissance vehicles are part of the LAND 400 Phase 2 Mounted Combat Reconnaissance Capability project, which was commissioned in 2018.

The Australian Minister for Defence, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, recently visited the Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) of Rheinmetall Defence Australia in Redbank, Queensland, to inspect the Boxer vehicles.

Rheinmetall will deliver a total of 211 Boxer 8x8 vehicles in various variants to the Australian Armed Forces, of which 131 are in the CRV version. They will replace the Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV) light wheeled reconnaissance vehicles as part of the LAND 400 Phase 2 project. The delivery of the first 25 vehicles enables the Australian Army to achieve the initial operational capability as planned. At the same time, Rheinmetall is moving into the next phase of LAND 400 Phase 2.

Gary Stewart, CEO of Rheinmetall Defence Australia, emphasizes that the high survivability and mobility of the Boxer is an important factor for Australia's Armored Reconnaissance Corps:

"The Boxer is distinguished by new capabilities that allow the Australian Army to fight, survive, and win in today's and tomorrow's complex operational scenarios," Stewart said.

"At the same time, Rheinmetall is delivering combat vehicle know-how to the Australian Armed Forces, thus contributing to the creation of a sovereign industrial capability in the development and manufacture of combat vehicles."

Stewart further stated that the delivery of these first vehicles was only possible by leveraging the benefits of current production lines in Germany and using this approach as part of technology transfer activities to enable Australian workers and suppliers to become familiar with the manufacturing techniques for highly complex military vehicles.

Currently, Rheinmetall Defence Australia has deployed over 30 Australian employees to Germany who are working at Rheinmetall locations and learning from their German counterparts. This fosters close collaboration and a deep partnership to realize combat vehicle capabilities for the Australian Army.

"Australian engineers, project managers, welders, technicians, trainers, and many more live and work with their colleagues in Germany to develop a deep understanding of Rheinmetall's products. What is particularly important: they acquire the skills and certifications to make this expertise and knowledge usable in Australia," Stewart said.

"This is the starting point for the knowledge base as the foundation for a sovereign Australian capability. It is complemented by our commitment to the Australian Technical and Further Education sector as well as universities. We aim to establish enduring pathways from our educational institutions to the military vehicle industry. Graduates should understand what we are doing today so that they are ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow."

The MILVEHCOE in Redbank, Queensland, is the focal point of the Australian Industry Capability (AIC) program related to the Boxer. Here, Rheinmetall will manage the Australian development, production, testing, training, and support of the Boxer vehicles and associated training systems. The MILVEHCOE is a sovereign facility where the Ministry of Defence, industry, and research organizations can work innovatively and collaborate on Australian Boxer and other defense programs. More about the new Military Vehicle Competence Center in Redbank/Queensland, Australia.

Development, production, and integration work within the MILVEHCOE is well underway. Facilities and equipment at the main production facility are installed and being commissioned. This work is a key component of knowledge transfer for full Boxer production in Australia. Production in Australia is set to begin after the commissioning of the Boxer production line at the MILVEHCOE is completed.

This approach to realizing Australian industrial capability has allowed Rheinmetall to involve Australian companies in the construction of the first 25 vehicles at an accelerated pace. Rheinmetall has engaged more than 20 companies to provide products and services. This enables Australian small and medium-sized enterprises to be represented with components on each individual Boxer CRV.

Rheinmetall on the internet: www.rheinmetall.com

The Boxer - versatile and proven in operation

The Boxer is a highly protected 8x8 wheeled vehicle. Its modular architecture allows for a variety of variants like no other vehicle system. The diversity of variants is subject to very high growth. Additional variants and upgrades are already planned. Over 1200 vehicles are currently under contract in four NATO countries in over 20 different variants: Germany, Netherlands, Lithuania, and the United Kingdom. The NATO ally Australia has also ordered a total of 211 Boxer vehicles in multiple versions, of which the first units have now been delivered. Everything about the GTK Boxer with the Bundeswehr.