First Australian-built Boxer CRVs roll off Brisbane assembly line

The first seven Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRVs) built at Rheinmetall Defence Australia’s facility at Redbank in Queensland have now been completed, says Defence, marking a major milestone for Australia’s sovereign defence industry. 

A total of 211 Boxers will be built for the ADF under the partnership with Rheinmetall Defence Australia (RDA) that is boosting domestic supply chains, adds Defence. This includes the 25 Boxer CRVs built in Germany and already in service with the Australian Army. More than 50 Australian companies have been contracted to support RDA in delivering the new fleet of Boxers.

In addition to these Boxers, RDA will also produce more than 100 Australian‑made Boxer Heavy Weapon Carrier vehicles for the German Army, in a contract worth more than $1 billion.

“Rheinmetall Defence Australia, their industry partners and a highly skilled Aussie workforce have partnered to deliver this home-grown capability for our ADF,” says Pat Conroy, Minister for Defence Industry. “But this partnership with Rheinmetall also shows how closely Germany and Australia are working together on critical military capabilities.”

The Boxer is a highly advanced armoured vehicle designed to keep soldiers safe in the toughest conditions, Defence says. The new vehicles will provide superior protection to the ASLAVs with which Army units were equipped before; and they will provide better firepower and mobility, supporting new long-range strike capabilities that are protected and enabled by a credible, amphibious-capable combined arms land system.

Boxer CRV variants include reconnaissance, command and control, joint fires and surveillance, repair, and recovery. The reconnaissance variant features a turret fitted with a 30mm automatic cannon and a Rafael Spike LR2 anti‑tank guided missile.