Navantia Australia and Rheinmetall Defence Australia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the Australian Army’s next-generation amphibious vehicle. The MoU was signed during the Land Forces 2021 exposition in Brisbane, QLD on Tuesday, 1 June 2021.
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A Lighter Amphibious Resupply Cargo - Vehicle (LARC-V) loaded with ADF equipment enters the water as the Army Amphibious Beach Team collects equipment from Manus Island. The aging LARC-V must be replaced (Picture source: Australian Defence Force)

 The partnership between Navantia Australia, Design Authority for over 110,000 tonnes of the Royal Australian Navy’s major surface fleet, and Rheinmetall, manufacturer of the Australian Army’s fleet of high mobility logistics vehicles and the Boxer 8×8 CRV fleet, will provide the Australian Army with the world’s toughest and most capable amphibious vehicle – designed, built and sustained in Australia by Australians. “We are excited to collaborate with Rheinmetall on the LAND 8710 Phase 1 CE2 program,” said Alfonso García-Valdés, Acting Director of Navantia Australia.

Rheinmetall’s successful track record in manufacturing specialist military vehicles for the Australian Defence Force and globally made the partnership a natural one for Navantia Australia.

The MoU, signed at Land Forces Conference 2021, will see Navantia Australia and Rheinmetall collaborate on developing a fast and future-proof amphibious vehicle design. “We look forward to working alongside Navantia Australia to develop an amphibious logistics capability that will meet the requirements of the Australian Defence Force and has export potential,” said Gary Stewart, Managing Director of Rheinmetall Defence Australia. “Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Australia has delivered more than 2,500 high mobility logistics vehicles to the ADF through LAND 1213B/5B and this ensures we have a world-leading vehicle to meet and exceed the requirements of LAND 8710 Phase 1 CE2.”