Australia begins local production of Boxer CRVs

Rheinmetall Defence Australia's Boxer CRV, the variant of the ARTEC Boxer designed for the Australian project Land 400 Phase 2 requirement, and fitted with the Lance two-person turret armed with the MK30-2/ABM cannon. (Rheinmetall Defence)

Rheinmetall Defence Australia's Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) has begun full-scale production of the locally made Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRVs) in Redbank, Ipswich.

In a joint press release on 20 March, the Queensland government and Rheinmetall Defence Australia said that with the completion of technology and skills transfer to Rheinmetall's workforce, the full-scale local production of the Boxer CRVs at the MILVEHCOE can commence.

With the support of the Queensland government, Rheinmetall secured the USD5.2 billion Land 400 Phase 2 project to deliver 211 Boxer CRVs to the Australian Defence Force.

In mid-October 2022, the Australian Army announced that the first 25 Boxer CRVs, partially manufactured in Germany, had achieved initial operating capability following testing and live exercises.

“The MILVEHCOE has already created 600 jobs for Queenslanders at the facility, with more through the local supply chain, and the facility will contribute more than USD1 billion to Queensland's economy over the life of the project,” the press release added.

Recently, it was revealed that Australia and Germany are in negotiations to produce and export the Queensland-made Boxer CRVs for the German Army.

In addition, “Rheinmetall has been shortlisted for the multibillion-dollar Land 400 Phase 3 project, and should it be successful, [it] will deliver hundreds of Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicles from the MILVEHCOE”, the statement said.

Nathan Poyner, managing director for Rheinmetall Defence Australia,