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.
“This will boost our sovereignty,” Mr. Albanese said.
“This will increase our defence capability and boost our economy.”
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.”
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.
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.
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.“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.