Australian-made Armoured Vehicles to be Exported to Germany

22 Maret 2024

Boxer 8x8 Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (photo: Aus DoD)

The Albanese Government has entered the single largest defence export agreement in our nation’s history, to supply Australian-made armoured vehicles to Germany.

Under the agreement, more than 100 Boxer Heavy Weapon Carrier vehicles will be built by Rheinmetall at its Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence in Redbank, Queensland and exported for use by the German Army.

This agreement, now passed through the German parliament, follows Prime Minister Anthony Albanese witnessing the signing of the in-principle agreement between Germany and Australia during his visit to Berlin in July last year.

This is a significant milestone for Australia’s defence industry: worth over $1 billion to the Australian economy, boosting our sovereign defence industry and securing more than 600 direct jobs in Queensland alone, with even more through the supply chain.

Today’s announcement will see Australian defence industry at the forefront of delivering world-leading defence capability to our trusted security partner, Germany.

Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“This significant announcement is worth over $1 billion to the Australian economy in the production and supply of these vehicles.

“The agreement will boost Australia’s sovereign defence industry, secure local jobs and contribute to Australia’s economic growth.

“This deal secures well-paid jobs in Queensland and across the country.” (Aus DoD)

Multi-billion-euro contract for Rheinmetall: "The Heavy Weapon Carrier for the Infantry" provides the Army's medium forces with firepower and rapid mobility 

The German Bundeswehr has commissioned Rheinmetall to supply the "Schwerer Waffenträger Infanterie (Heavy Weapon Carrier for the Infantry)". Following the Budget Committee of the German Bundestag approved the proposal on 20 March 2024, the contract was signed today on 21 March 2023. The German Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) will procure up to 123 vehicles “Schwerer Waffen-träger Infanterie”. The contract is worth around €2.7 billion, which also includes service and maintenance. Delivery is scheduled to begin in 2025.

The Heavy Weapon Carrier for the Infantry serves as a replacement for the Wiesel (“weasel”) tracked vehicle for direct tactical fire support of infantry units. It is also a core element of the German Army's new force category, the "medium forces" are able to rapidly deploy over long distances and thus contribute to credible national and alliance defence.

Boxer 8x8 Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (photo: Rheinmetall)

The Heavy Weapon Carrier for the Infantry is based on the Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV), the wheeled armoured reconnaissance vehicle of the Australian Defence Force, also supplied by Rheinmetall. This is the proven 8x8 combat vehicle with an armoured reconnaissance mission module including the two-person Lance turret. The main weapon is the Rheinmetall MK30-2 ABM automatic cannon, which is also installed in the German Puma infantry fighting vehicle. In addition, the multi-role guided missile system (“mehrrollenfähiges leichtes Lenkflugkörpersystem” or MELLS), which enables the Heavy Weapon Carrier for the Infantry to provide anti-tank defence, is also fitted.

Armin Papperger, Chairman of the Executive Board of Rheinmetall AG: "We are very proud to have been selected to supply the Schwerer Waffenträger Infanterie, an essential element of the German Army's new force category, the 'medium forces'. In order to be able to provide the Army with the required combat vehicles as quickly as possible, we are integrating not only our German but also the Australian sites in our Rheinmetall network."

The vehicles earmarked for the Bundeswehr will use production capacities at Rheinmetall's state-of-the-art Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) in Redbank, south-east Queensland - together with the Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles produced for the Australian Defence Forces.

Comprehensive German-Australian cooperation on this programme was initiated in 2023. In July 2023, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese agreed a corresponding agreement in principle in Berlin on the fringes of a visit to Germany. A declaration of cooperation had previously been signed in Canberra on 23 March 2023 by the Australian Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy MP, and the German Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Defence, Thomas Hitschler. This lays the foundation for further contractual arrangements between the Australian and German Ministries of Defence and Rheinmetall.

John Abunassar, head of Rheinmetall's Vehicle Systems Division, emphasised the similarities between the Australian and planned German Boxer vehicles and the trust that both allies place in Rheinmetall. "The Bundeswehr Boxers, some of which are to be built at MILVEHCOE, are based on the design of the successful Australian Boxer wheeled armoured reconnaissance vehicle. This would be one of the largest Australian defence exports in the country's history and supports Rheinmetall's goal to further develop the capabilities of the Australian defence industry and integrate it into the company's global supply chains."

"Rheinmetall has more than 900 employees in Australia, high-tech capabilities and an established manufacturing facility in Redbank that produces vehicles, armour and electronics. Our Australian and global supply chain will grow and bring further prosperity to small and medium sized businesses as we secure new orders to complement existing export programmes. We welcome the close defence industry partnership between Australia and Germany as the two nations work together to enhance global security," added Nathan Poyner, Managing Director of Rheinmetall Defence Australia. (Rheinmetall)