Rheinmetall strengthens Australian industry ties

Rheinmetall Defence Australia (RDA) has entered into agreements with a host of small local businesses in support of its programmes to supply military vehicles to the Australian Army. The partnerships were announced by the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) on 7 August.

According to a DoD statement, seven small companies have been selected to partner RDA on its contracted projects to build and supply Rheinmetall Boxer 8×8 combat reconnaissance vehicles under Land 400 Phase 2 and logistics trucks under Land 121 Phase 5B.

Rheinmetall Defence Australia has entered new agreements with Australian companies in support of its programmes to deliver logistics trucks and Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicles (pictured) to the Australian Army. (Rheinmetall)

The seven new subcontracting agreements are worth a total of about AUD20 million (USD13.4 million), according to the DoD, and represent a small portion of the work to be allocated to local industry under the Land 400 Phase 2 and Land 121 Phase 5B procurement projects.

“The seven contracts announced today are the initial contracts, part of around AUD1.9 billion of work to be undertaken by Australian industry,” said the DoD, adding that the subcontracted companies will be part of a “growing cohort of local small businesses” partnering with Rheinmetall as it looks to build its network of suppliers across the country.

The DoD said companies to have signed new subcontracts to support the Boxer programme include Cablex, which will supply vehicle systems and cabling; Eylex (communications equipment); Tectonica Australia (driver aids); and ABI Coating Specialists (paint). Companies to work on the Rheinmetall logistics trucks include Bartlett (tarpaulins), Supashock (spare wheel carriage system), and Varley (various modules).