Australian govt order Boxers for German Army
Australia is set to make its largest ever defence export after the Australian government signed a production contract with Rheinmetall Defence Australia last month.
FILE PHOTO (July 2023): Chief of the German Army Lieutenant General Alfons Mais and Head of Equipment Department Ministry of Defence, Vice Admiral Carsten Stawitzki prepare to take a test drive of a Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicle at Rheinmetall Defense Australia, Brisbane, Queensland. Photo by Marc Dorow.
The signing of the production contract fulfils the intent of a bilateral agreement signed by the Australian and German governments in March to export more than 100 Australian-made Boxer heavy-weapon carrier vehicles to Germany.
This contract, worth more than AU$1billion to the Australian economy, will see Boxer heavy-weapon carriers, built at Rheinmetall Defence Australia’s Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence in Redbank, Queensland, supplied to the German Army.
The first vehicle to be built in Australia is scheduled to be delivered to the German government in 2026 with the final vehicle due in 2030.
Australia’s Head of Land Systems Division Major General Jason Blain said the contract would supply Germany with one of the most advanced armoured vehicles in the world, while supporting Australia’s world-class defence industry.
“This contract signals the strength of the ongoing partnership between the Australian government and our nation’s defence industry, including Rheinmetall Defence Australia,” Major General Blain said.
“Rheinmetall Defence Australia has strong, enduring partnerships with a large number of Australian companies skilled in the delivery of military vehicle capabilities.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is a classic example of how complex international relations are, especially in the military sphere. What we have here is the German government, ordering German-designed machinery from a subsidiary wholly owned by a German company – but the production contract is between the German-owned company and the Australian government. Complexities aside, this is great news.
.
.
.
.
.
What an interesting concept, the Albanese government will build AFV’s for Germany, no issues with that, while denying our own troops decent protection. Typical Labor. As always in the ADF, the Army are poor cousins.
But we don’t need to worry, the RAN and RAAF will smite the enemy before they get here. As long as the war is over in a week.