Historic $1 Billion Defence Deal: Australia to Export Over 100 Boxer armored vehicles to Germany.

On July 10, 2023, Australia and Germany signed an agreement to deliver more than 100 Boxer 8x8 armored vehicles from Australia to Germany. This is a deal worth over $1 billion, it is one of Australia's largest-ever defense export deals in history. These armored vehicles will be produced in Queensland creating, of course, the 1,000 jobs that are there at Rheinmetall in Brisbane.
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Australian Army Boxer 8x8 armored vehicle. (Picture source Australia MoD)

The deal to export German military technology back to Germany comes as the war in Ukraine has forced European nations to replenish their military equipment.

On August 17, 2018, German company Rheinmetall announced the signature of a €2.1 billion contract to supply Australia with 211 Boxer 8x8 wheeled armored vehicles. In June 2021, Rheinmetall confirmed the delivery of the first 25 Boxer 8x8 Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRV) to the Australian Army under the $5.2 billion LAND 400 Phase 2 Mounted Combat Reconnaissance Capability project.

As part of its winning bid in 2018 for the Australian Defence Force contract, Rheinmetall established a factory and testing ground at Redbank, dubbed the Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence.

The Boxer 8x8 armored vehicles are manufactured at Rheinmetall Defence Australia’s factory at Redbank, near Ipswich in south-east Queensland, Australia.

The Boxer 8x8 is a highly protected, versatile armored vehicle renowned for its modular architecture. This feature allows the vehicle to be easily adapted into a variety of configurations, making it unmatched by any other vehicle system in terms of versatility.

Manufactured by Rheinmetall Defence, the Boxer is primarily used by several NATO nations, including Germany, the Netherlands, Lithuania, and the UK, as well as Australia, a close NATO partner. To date, more than 1,200 Boxer vehicles in over 20 different configurations have been ordered.

The Boxer's adaptable design allows for a diverse range of uses, accommodating a variety of mission-specific modules. Its roles can include an armored personnel carrier, command vehicle, ambulance, or infantry fighting vehicle, among others.

In addition to its versatility, the Boxer is recognized for its heavy protection. The vehicle is designed to withstand a variety of threats, including mines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and ballistic assaults.

Rheinmetall continues to develop new variants and upgrades for the Boxer, underlining its continuous growth and development. The company's factory in Redbank, Queensland, Australia, is one of the primary manufacturing facilities for the Boxer vehicles.

Defense News July 2023