The Commonwealth of Australia has signed the production contract with Rheinmetall for 123 Boxer Heavy Weapon Carrier vehicles with more than 100 of those vehicles to be exported from Australia for use by the German Army; making it Australia’s largest foreign military export to Germany.
Nathan Poyner, Managing Director of Rheinmetall Defence Australia, confirmed that the order is Australia’s largest foreign military export to Germany.
Notably, the deliveries are scheduled to start in 2025 with the first Australian-built vehicle to be delivered in 2026.
The Heavy Weapon Carrier, or “Schwerer Waffenträger Infanterie” vehicle is based on the Australian Army’s Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV).
The Boxer vehicle is an advanced, armoured 8×8 vehicle in service with armies around the globe.
Further, it offers enhanced troop safety, security and protection, coupled with high levels of firepower and mobility for sustained operations ranging from peacekeeping to high-intensity combat.
The CRV is equipped with a reconnaissance mission module including the two-person digital Lance turret; the first crewed medium-calibre turret to be put into service on the Boxer platform.
The German Boxers are to be produced at Rheinmetall’s Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence at Redbank in South East Queensland, where more than 650 skilled Rheinmetall workers produce vehicles, armour and electronics for Australia and global partners.
The contract supports Rheinmetall’s vision to build and grow Australia’s defence industry capability to create local net value and integrate Australian companies into Rheinmetall’s global supply chain.
In addition to the 211 Boxer vehicles ordered under Australia’s LAND 400 Phase 2 project – 133 of which are the CRV variant with the crewed digital Lance turret – the company also services the Australian Army’s HX truck fleet, which comprises more than 2,900 vehicles.
Besides, it provides the MASS Multi-Ammunition Soft-Kill System to the Royal Australian Navy, manages training systems for Defence and has delivered more than 200 HX Trucks to the New Zealand Defence Force.
