Germany’s New Armed Vehicles to Be Made in Australia

Members from 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry) took part in Exercise Damascus 23 in March at Wide Bay Training Area. A Squadron, assisted by elements of Support Squadron, conducted live fire and tactical operations in the Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV) as they continue their training progression ahead of Talisman Sabre 23. The exercise also enhanced soldiers’ abilities in the Boxer CRV, as they continued to test its capability following its introduction to use in 2021. (CPL Nicole Dorrett, Australian Defence Forces)

Germany will purchase over 100 new armed vehicles from Australia under a new billion-dollar defence export deal.

The deal will see Queensland-made armoured vehicles, known locally as the Boxer Heavy Weapon Carriers, sold to Germany in one of the biggest defence export deals Australia has completed to date.

It is estimated to be worth over $1 billion (US$665 million) to the Australian economy from the production and supply of the vehicles.

Announcing the deal in Berlin on July 10, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it would guarantee that the one thousand jobs at the Queensland manufacturer will be safe into the future.

“This will boost our sovereignty,” Mr. Albanese said.

“This will increase our defence capability and boost our economy.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese talks to the media during a visit to Tritium, Brisbane, Friday, March 31, 2023. (AAP Image/Jono Searle)

Delivery of the completed vehicles to Germany is expected to be scheduled to begin in 2025.

Germany and Australian Military Collaboration Growing

Defence Minister Richard Marles said on July 10 that the defence relationship between Australia and Germany was growing significantly with the deal.

“This is a significant investment for our local defence industry, securing local jobs and contributing to Australia’s economic growth,” Mr. Marles said.

“I look forward to seeing this significant deal between our two countries continue to progress.”

Deputy Opposition Leader Richard Marles in the House of Representatives at Parliament House on September 18, 2019, in Canberra, Australia. (Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images)

Made by Rheinmetall Defence Australia at its Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence at Redbank in Brisbane, the Boxer is an eight-by-eight-wheeled, all-terrain, Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle.

Designed as part of Defence’s Land 400 project, the Boxer is part of the Australian Army’s renewal of its armoured fighting vehicles, with 211 vehicles being ordered for the Australian Army.

It is capable of operating in a range of environments, from the coastal environment to “contested, complex urban environments”, and has high levels of protection, firepower and mobility.

An Australian Army Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle operated by soldiers from the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry) engages a target during Exercise Damascus at Wide Bay training area, Queensland, Australia on March 23, 2023. (CPL Nicole Dorrett, Australian Defence Forces)

These enable the vehicle to support sustained operations, varying from peacekeeping to close combat, with some variants also being outfitted with Anti-Tank Guided Missiles or a Remote Weapons Station.

Deal Months in the Making

The deal is the culmination of months of negotiations, with the Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy announcing negotiations would being in March.

Australian Army sappers from the 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment guide a Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle through the decontamination bay during a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence training serial at Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane, May 11, 2023. (CPL Nicole Dorrett, Australian Defence Forces).

Mr. Conroy, at the time, said he was excited by the prospect of the Australian vehicles being used by the German Army.

“We are keen to export this world-leading capability to a trusted and respected security partner and to further strengthen the defence relationship between our countries,” he said.