Rheinmetall: Australians test the Lynx

Rheinmetall has been awarded by the Commonwealth of Australia to participate in the Risk Mitigation Activity (RMA) phase of the Land 400 Phase 3 armament project with the Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicle. A corresponding contract was signed in mid-October. The contract also includes the delivery of three Lynx KF41 test samples. The contract signed now has a value of 50 million AUD (around 30 million EUR). In the event of success, the entire Land 400 Phase 3 project carries an order volume of 15 billion AUD (9.5 billion EUR).

The tracked Lynx KF41 is a network-enabled, highly protected next-generation infantry fighting vehicle that meets the stringent military requirements of the Land 400 Phase 3 project. The Australian Army is looking for a highly capable and well-protected infantry combat vehicle to defeat enemy forces even in the highest threat situations.

Under the LAND 400 Phase 3 RMA contract, the Commonwealth will conduct a comprehensive technical and program-related evaluation of the two remaining bidders over a period of 24 months. The vehicles will be operated by members of the Australian Defense Force and tested in Australian terrain under extreme conditions. Effectiveness, transportability, mobility, troop suitability will be evaluated, as well as explosive and ballistic tests conducted. In parallel, the Commonwealth will work with the two bidders in a structured evaluation phase to optimize technical performance, growth potential, value for money and national economic benefit.

In another major Australian project, Rheinmetall will deliver – starting in 2019 – 211 Boxer 8×8 wheeled reconnaissance vehicles to the Australian Army. The vehicle was selected by the Commonwealth after successfully completing a twelve-month RMA testing phase in 2016-2017. These successful RMA tests were globally recognized as a comprehensive demonstration of the vehicle's capability. Rheinmetall was able to gain experience and expertise to achieve the best result for LAND 400 Phase 3. Gary Stewart, Managing Director of Rheinmetall Defence Australia, stated that the Lynx KF 41 infantry fighting vehicles now designated for RMA testing in Australia will contain significant Australian industrial content.

The modular Lynx KF41 vehicle, in the infantry fighting vehicle version, features Rheinmetall's digital Lance turret with electronic architecture, which is also used in the Boxer 8×8 CRV. This allows crews access to sensor systems, modern automatic detection and targeting functions, and weapon-integrated combat management in a network-enabled platform.

"If Rheinmetall is awarded the contract for serial production in the LAND 400 Phase 3 project, the Lynx KF41 fleet will be manufactured at Rheinmetall's MILVEHCOE in Redbank and southwest of Brisbane," said Stewart.
Rheinmetall is already building an Australian industrial network for Land 400, developing industrial capabilities. On-site, development and manufacturing competencies are being established in the areas of electro-optics, weapon systems, fire control and sensor systems, turret manufacturing, variant development and manufacturing, integration, protection systems, simulation, training, and fleet support.

Rheinmetall on the Internet: www.rheinmetall.com