Heavy Weapon Carrier Infantry from Down Under

04/03/2023By Redaktion

Australien Boxer Deutschland Gefechtsfahrzeuge

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

The cooperation agreement was signed on March 23, 2023, in Canberra by Australian Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy MP, and German Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Defense, Thomas Hitschler. This lays the foundation for further contractual arrangements between the Australian and German Defense Ministries and Rheinmetall.

After the completion 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 southeast Queensland - together with the Boxer CRV (Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle) produced for the Australian Defense Force.

The heavy infantry carrier (sWaTrInf) is based on the Boxer CRV. This is the proven 8x8 combat vehicle with a reconnaissance mission module including the two-man turret Lance. The main weapon is the Rheinmetall MK30-2 ABM automatic cannon, which is also installed in the German Puma infantry fighting vehicle. In the future, the German Armed Forces plan to procure over 100 Boxer sWaTrInf vehicles to replace the Wiesel for direct tactical fire support of their infantry units. Delivery is expected to begin in 2025.
John Abunassar, Head of the Rheinmetall Division Vehicle Systems, highlighted the similarities between the Australian and planned German Boxer vehicles and the trust that both allies place in Rheinmetall. "The Bundeswehr Boxers, which will be partially built at MILVEHCOE, follow the design of the successful Australian Boxer CRV. This would be one of the largest Australian arms exports in the country's history. The project supports Rheinmetall's goal of further expanding the capabilities of the Australian defense industry and integrating it into the company's global supply chains."

"In Australia, Rheinmetall has over 900 employees, high-tech capabilities, and an established production facility in Redbank that manufactures vehicles, tanks, and electronics. Our Australian and global supply chain will grow and bring further prosperity to small and medium-sized enterprises as we receive new orders to complement existing export programs. We welcome the close partnership between Australia and Germany in the field of land vehicles as the two nations work together to enhance global security," added Nathan Poyner, Managing Director of Rheinmetall Defence Australia.

The news of 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 the Premier of Queensland, Annastacia Palaszczuk, the symbolic first weld for the Australian-produced Boxer CRV was set.

The Boxer is a modern, armored 8x8 vehicle that is in service or under 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 long-lasting operations in peacekeeping missions as well as in near-peer conflict.

In Australia, Rheinmetall is the largest supplier of military vehicles to the Australian Defense Forces. In addition to the 211 Boxer vehicles delivered as part of the Land 400 Phase 2 project - including 133 in the CRV variant with the manned Lance turret - the company also supports the HX fleet of the Australian Defense Forces, which comprises over 2,900 vehicles. Furthermore, the company is bidding with the Lynx infantry fighting vehicle in the Australian Land 400 Phase 3 project. Everything about Boxer at Rheinmetall.

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