Heavy weapon carrier infantry: the Boxer from Downunder

08/29/2023By Redaktion

Australien Boxer Bundeswehr Gefechtsfahrzeuge

Rheinmetall welcomes the German-Australian cooperation agreement for the planned construction of Boxer combat vehicles in Australia for the German project "heavy infantry combat vehicle". This project deepens the close cooperation and defense partnership between both nations in the land domain.

From July 22 to August 4, 2023, the multinational exercise Talisman Sabre took place in Australia with German military participation. The exercise included amphibious landings, maneuvers by land forces, as well as air combat exercises and maritime operations. 170 German army soldiers and 40 navy personnel participated in Talisman Sabre in Australia.

On the occasion of this exercise and the German-Australian cooperation, the Inspector General of the German Army, Lieutenant General Alfons Mais, visited the Rheinmetall Defence Australia site. Together with the Equipment Department Head at the German Federal Ministry of Defense, Vice Admiral Carsten Stawitzki, the Army Inspector General inspected the production of the Boxer.

“Our message is: We want to be a credible and reliable partner. We see Australia as a strong pillar in the region,” emphasized Lieutenant General Mais. As the basis for this comprehensive cooperation, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese agreed in July 2023 with Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on the sidelines of his visit to Germany to an appropriate framework agreement. A cooperation declaration had previously been signed on March 23, 2023 in Canberra by the Australian Minister for Defense Industry, Pat Conroy MP, and the German Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Defense, Thomas Hitschler. This lays the foundation for further contractual arrangements between the Australian and German defense ministries as well as Rheinmetall.

After the conclusion of legal and economic negotiations, the Boxer vehicles intended for the Bundeswehr will be built using the production capacities of the state-of-the-art Rheinmetall Military Vehicle Center of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) in Redbank in southeastern Queensland – alongside the Boxer CRV reconnaissance vehicles produced for the Australian Defense Force.

The heavy infantry combat vehicle (sWaTrInf) is based on the Boxer CRV. This is the proven 8x8 combat vehicle with a reconnaissance vehicle mission module including the two-man Lance turret. The main weapon is the Rheinmetall MK30-2 ABM machine gun, which is also installed in the German Puma infantry fighting vehicle. In the future, the German armed forces plan to acquire over 100 Boxer sWaTrInf as a replacement for the Wiesel tracked vehicle for direct tactical fire support of their infantry units. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2025.

John Abunassar, head of the Rheinmetall Vehicle Systems division, pointed out the similarities between the Australian and planned German Boxer vehicles and the trust that the two allies place in Rheinmetall. “The Bundeswehr Boxers, some of which are to be built at MILVEHCOE, follow the design of the successful Australian Boxer reconnaissance vehicle. This would be one of the largest Australian arms exports in the country's history and supports Rheinmetall's goal of further enhancing the capabilities of the Australian defense industry and integrating it into the company's global supply chains.”

“Rheinmetall has more than 900 employees in Australia, high-tech capabilities, and an established production facility in Redbank that manufactures vehicles, tanks, and electronics. Our Australian and global supply chain will grow, bringing further prosperity to small and medium-sized businesses as we receive new orders that complement existing export programs. We welcome the close partnership between Australia and Germany in the field of land vehicles as the two nations collaborate to enhance global security,” adds Nathan Poyner, CEO of Rheinmetall Defence Australia.

The news about the Letter of Cooperation for the planned Bundeswehr Boxers from Australian production follows the start of Australian Boxer production by Rheinmetall with the "Striking of the Arc" ceremony at MILVEHCOE on Monday, March 20, 2023. In the presence of Queensland's Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, the symbolic first weld for the Australian-produced Boxer CRV was made.

The Boxer is a modern, armored 8x8 vehicle that is in use or in procurement by various armed forces worldwide. The Boxer provides increased safety and protection for crews and offers a high level of firepower and mobility for enduring operations in peacekeeping efforts as well as in near-peer conflict. Learn more about the Boxer at Rheinmetall.

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