15 March 2021

Canberra displays contenders for Australian Army's IFV requirement

by Gabriel Dominguez

The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) has formally displayed the two shortlisted contenders for the Australian Army’s AUD18.1–27.1 billion (USD14–21 billion) infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) requirement.

The Australian DoD displayed for the first time on 12 March the two contenders for the Australian Army’s IFV requirement under Project Land 400 Phase 3. Rheinmetall’s Lynx KF41 (right) and Hanwha Defense's Redback (left) are competing to replace the army’s obsolescent M113AS4 APCs (background). (Australian DoD via Twitter )

Prototypes of the Hanwha Defense Australia Redback and the Rheinmetall Defence Australia Lynx KF41 IFVs were showcased in an event held in Canberra on 12 March.

Three prototypes of each vehicle have been handed over to the DoD to undergo risk-mitigation activities (RMAs) that will include mobility, reliability, and blast testing.

The RMAs are also meant to analyse each vehicle’s ability to integrate with other major Australian Defence Force land, sea, and air capabilities, including amphibious lift.

Contracts, supply chains, and maintenance associated with the vehicles will also be examined, with a recommendation on the preferred tenderer to be presented to the Australian government for consideration in 2022.

The Australian Army’s Project Land 400 Phase 3, also known as the Mounted Close Combat Capability requirement, is aimed at providing and supporting up to 450 tracked IFVs and 17 manoeuvre support vehicles that will be built in Australia.

These will replace the army’s obsolescent M113AS4 armoured personnel carriers (APCs), which, although upgraded in recent years, date from the mid-1960s.

The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) has formally displayed the two shortlisted contenders for...

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