Rheinmetall Defence Australia has begun full-scale production of Boxer 8×8 Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRVs) at its Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) in Ipswich, Queensland.
In a joint press release released on 20 March, the Queensland government and Rheinmetall Defence Australia announced that full-scale local production of the second batch of Boxer CRVs at the MILVEHCOE can commence following the transfer of technology and skills the local workforce.
The Australian Army earlier announced in October 2022 that the first batch of 25 Boxer CRVs, partially manufactured in Germany but assembled in Australia, had achieved initial operating capability following testing and live exercises.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk witnessed the first weld of materials for the first Australian Boxer CRV along with Australian industrial partners including Bisalloy, Marand, and Intellidesign.
“Through the delivery of LAND 400 Phase 2 and its other projects, our partnership has already created 600 jobs at the Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence, which will be contributing more than $1 billion to the Queensland’s economy in its first 10 years of operation,” said Palaszczuk. “The facility is now the most advanced military vehicle manufacturing facility in Australia.”
“Aussie Recon #1 is the first of 186 Boxer CRVs that will be built at MILVEHCOE, providing jobs, training, and new opportunities for Australians working at Rheinmetall and in the more than 200 Australian Industry Partners across the nation,” added Nathan Poyner, managing director for Rheinmetall Defence Australia.
The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) earlier contracted Rheinmetall Defence Australia to deliver and support 211 Boxer 8×8 CRVs for the Australian Army under the Land 400 Phase 2 project. The Boxer CRV will replace the Australian Light Armoured Vehicle, which has seen extensive operational service since its introduction in 1996.
Australia and Germany are also in negotiations to produce and export Australian-made Boxer CRVs as well as tracked Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicles for the German Army, depending on the success of the Australian programmes.
by Jr Ng
