AUSTRALIA: The lynx as an amphibian

The two vehicles being considered for the billion-dollar Australian Infantry Fighting Vehicle project have been tested for their seafaring capabilities in Sydney Harbour.

The competitors peacefully side by side: The testing of the Redback by Hanwha Defense Australia (left) and the KF-41 Lynx by Rheinmetall Defence Australia (right) marked the conclusion of the extensive testing and evaluation program conducted as part of the two-year testing of Project LAND 400 Phase 3.

The vehicles were tested for their interoperability with a wide range of navy facilities at the maritime bases HMAS Penguin and Garden Island, including various navy landing craft and large ships such as HMAS Choules and the helicopter landing dock HMAS Adelaide.

The Department of Defence is testing the vehicles' ability to operate on and off the landing craft and ships, including transfers between the facilities. Integration testing ensures that the vehicles can be effectively deployed as part of joint forces.

The Head of Armoured Vehicles in the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group of the Department of Defence, Major General David Coghlan, stated that the ability of Infantry Fighting Vehicles to be deployed with the ADF's current transport means domestically and internationally is crucial.

"These trials have proven that these vehicles can be transported on a variety of navy landing craft and ships, allowing this capability to be utilized in the future on both strategic and tactical maritime platforms," said Major General Coghlan.

With a value ranging from 18.1 to 27.1 billion dollars, the Infantry Fighting Vehicle project is the largest procurement in the history of the Australian Army. So, they better be able to handle themselves on water...

Just recently, Rheinmetall Australia presented its Combat Support Vehicle HERE on SPARTANAT.

RHEINMETALL DEFENCE AUSTRALIA online