Australian-made armoured vehicles to be exported to Germany

The German Army, the Bundeswehr, has ordered up to 123 Australian-made Boxer Heavy Weapon Carrier vehicles from the Rheinmetall plant at its Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence in Redbank, Queensland. The order is worth more than $1 billion. The company also manufactures the Boxer for the Australian Army at redbank.

“I am pleased to announce the signing of the biggest defence export agreement in Australia’s history,” said Minister for defence Richard Marles. “The build and export of Boxer Heavy Weapon Carrier vehicles to the German Army highlights a strengthening of the relationship between our two countries.”

The 8×8 Heavy Weapon Carrier for the Infantry is based on the Australian Army’s Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV). This proven combat vehicle has an armoured reconnaissance mission module including the two-person Lance turret. Its main armament 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.

It serves as a replacement for the Wiesel 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 force, which is able to rapidly deploy over long distances and thus contribute to credible national and alliance defence.