Rheinmetall is pleased to announce an export order in excess of $150 million dollars from Australia to the Hungarian Armed Forces to supply digital Lance turrets to be designed and manufactured at the company’s new Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) in South East Queensland. The prime minister of Australia, the Hon. Scott Morrison MP, recognised the order on 11 October, lauding Rheinmetall’s first export contract from Australia.
The prime minister acknowledged this significant announcement at the official opening of the MILVEHCOE, in Redbank, south-west of Brisbane, before members of the Australian Defence Force, representatives of Queensland Defence industry community and Rheinmetall Defence Australia employees.
Last month, the Hungarian government announced that it was entering a joint venture to supply the Hungarian armed forces with 218 Lynx infantry fighting vehicles. Under the agreement, which is worth over two billion euros, Hungary, a NATO and EU member state, will become the first customer for Rheinmetall’s next-generation IFV.
The program includes the digital Lance turret to enable the crew to access sensor systems, advanced automatic tracking and targeting capabilities and weapon-integrated battle management all in one connected and enabled platform.
Exports from Australia and Germany are a key part of the program as the Hungarian joint venture constructs local manufacturing operations during the first phase of production. This will see at least 30 of the first 46 digital Lance turrets supplied from Australia during Phase 1.
“We welcome this major export contract, and we look forward to the follow on turret and kit orders to be awarded by other European customers,” said Gary Stewart, Chief Executive of Rheinmetall Vehicle Systems Asia Pacific and Managing Director of Rheinmetall Defence Australia.
The Hungarian export program will be expanded in the coming months to include a further 127 Lance turret kits from Rheinmetall Defence Australia, and Australian-designed and manufactured products supplied by local SMEs including automotive running gear from Adelaide’s Supashock, high capacity alternators from Albury’s Milspec Manufacturing and armour steel from Bisalloy in Wollongong.
“Design, development and manufacture of these systems will build on the advanced manufacturing jobs at our MILVEHCOE development, production and test facility in Queensland, as well as the strong industrial network of SMEs across Australia,” Mr Stewart said.
Rheinmetall is currently delivering 211 Boxer 8x8 Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRV) to the Australian Army after the vehicle was selected by the Australian Government following 12 months of trials in 2016-2017. Of the Boxer CRV fleet 133 vehicles include the digital Lance turret. The Hungarian program takes advantage of and extends the turret manufacturing activities in Australia.
About Rheinmetall
Rheinmetall sets the global standard for excellence in a wide array of disciplines and offers an extensive array of military hardware that delivers mobility, lethality, survivability of troops, reconnaissance capability and networking of national and international systems. Rheinmetall Defence Australia and New Zealand is a subsidiary of Rheinmetall AG, with offices in Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane.
For more information about Rheinmetall Defence visit: www.rheinmetall-defence.com
For more information about Boxer CRV visit: www.boxer8x8crv.com.au
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To learn more about Rheinmetall Defence in Australia follow: @RheinmetallAG & @RheinmetallAus
Media contact Australia and New Zealand: Richard Sproull Manager, Communications and Stakeholder Relations Rheinmetall Defence Australia and New Zealand M: +61 418 585 517 E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
