Thales and Rheinmetall team up to support Aussie Land 400 programme
The Boxer CRV programme is worth A$5.9 billion in total. (Photo: Rheinmetall)
Thales Australia will manufacture components for the Rheinmetall MK 30-2 30mm cannon that will equip the Boxer CRV.
The Australian Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price and the Minister for Veteran’s Affairs Andrew Gee announced on 28 September a new manufacturing partnership between Rheinmetall Defence Australia and Thales Australia to support the Land 400 Phase 2 programme.
Thales Australia’s Lithgow facility in New South Wales has commenced manufacturing components for the Rheinmetall MK 30-2 30mm cannon that will equip the Boxer CRV.
According to Thales, this partnership will provide substantial technology transfer to Australia in support of a number of defence projects with a target of 100% Australian Industry Capability.
It ‘will be a significant driver of growth in sovereign capability, boosting investment in SMEs, R&D and delivering long-term jobs,’ the press release noted.
The joint effort will also look at transferring to Australia the manufacture and sustainment of a range of mounted weapons, combining Thales Australia’s manufacturing expertise and domestic supplier base with Rheinmetall’s mounted weapons.
As Thales pointed out, approximately 50% of the work in Lithgow facility will be done by SME suppliers, and the overall Australian Industrial Capability is already over 85%.
The first samples manufactured in Australia have already passed quality control checks by Rheinmetall Defence in Germany.
Shephard Defence Insight notes that Land 400 Phase 2 is the largest and most expensive project in the history of the Australian Army.
In total, the programme is worth A$5.879 billion ($3.912 billion), which covers both procurement of Boxer platforms and initial sustainment costs.
More from Land Warfare
-
![Echoshield 4D radar addresses C-UAS demands]()
Echoshield 4D radar addresses C-UAS demands
Several DoD and overseas customers have already pre-purchased the EchoShield 4D C-UAS radar ahead of testing, according to manufacturer Echodyne.
-
![GM Defense introduces a new variant to its ISV family]()
GM Defense introduces a new variant to its ISV family
The Expeditionary Logistics and Mission Support Concept Vehicle is a four-passenger platform with a cargo box. Similar to the traditional nine-troop carrier, it is light enough to be sling-loaded from a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and compact enough to fit inside a CH-47 Chinook helicopter.
-
![FNSS pushes ZAHA for Indonesian AAV requirement]()
FNSS pushes ZAHA for Indonesian AAV requirement
As Indonesia pushes to boost its domestic defence industry, agreements were recently signed for AAVs, small-arms ammunition, C-130 MRO and air surveillance radars.
-
![Read the latest issue of the Armoured Vehicles Handbook]()
Read the latest issue of the Armoured Vehicles Handbook
The Armoured Vehicles Handbook Issue 12 covers the global armoured vehicles industry and provides a handy reference source for the basic parameters that describe a platform’s performance.
