ALBAWABA – Australia has signed its defense industry’s biggest export deal to date of more than 1 billion Australian Dollars ($664.5 million), as reported by Anadolu Agency, to provide over 100 Boxer heavy weapon carrier armored vehicles to Germany.
Now approved by the German government, Rheinmetall, a German weapons manufacturer, will produce the Boxer heavy weapon carrying vehicles at its Queensland, Australia, facility, later exported to the German Army to be employed.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has commented on the deal according to APDR saying “This significant announcement is worth over $1 billion to the Australian economy in the production and supply of these vehicles. The agreement will boost Australia’s sovereign defense industry, secure local jobs and contribute to Australia’s economic growth.”
🇦🇺 🇩🇪 100 of these Boxer Heavy Weapon Carrier vehicles will be built by Rheinmetall in Queensland and exported to the German Army in a deal worth more than $1 billion.
— Latika M Bourke (@latikambourke) March 21, 2024
🤝🏾 Vote through Germany's parliament finalised the agreement which was signed last year.
It is Australia's… pic.twitter.com/uEhhtDSH5B
The German Army's "Schwerer Waffenträger Infanterie" (heavy weapon carrier infantry) initiative signed a "German-Australian letter of cooperation" in September of last year, according to ABC News, establishing the manufacturing of Boxer combat vehicles in Australia.
Anthony Albanese and Defense Richard Marles jointly released a statement in which they said that Australia will provide 100 Boxer vehicles to the German Army, two years after Albanese's visit to Berlin when the two nations inked the agreement according to Anadolu Agency, which has since been ratified by the German parliament.
Minister of Defence Industry, Pat Conroy has said regarding the deal “This announcement underscores the support and immense effort on the part of the Albanese Government in ensuring we have a robust defence industry,” adding that “A strong defence industry is crucial to protecting Australians and their interests.”
