THE Prime Minister has inked a $1b defence supply contract with Germany sealing the long-term future of military manufacturer Rheinmetall’s Ipswich headquarters.
The contract to sell more than 100 Boxer heavy weapon carriers also stamps 1000 jobs for the Rheinmetall Redbank manufacturing hub.
PM Anthony Albanese was in Berlin this week where he held a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to secure the deal.
He confirmed Australia had agreed to deliver 100 heavy weapon carriers to Germany, in one of the largest defence export deals in the country’s history.
“This will increase our defence capability and boost our economy, this is a great outcome,” Mr Albanese told reporters prior to heading to the NATO Summit meeting in Lithuania.
Rheinmetall confirmed the opening of its Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence in Redbank in 2020.
The centre designs, develops and manufacturers military vehicles and platforms at the facility.
It is the company’s regional headquarters.
The Boxer Armoured Transport vehicle is described by Rheinmetall as a “highly mobile, state-of-the-art wheeled vehicle whose modular design permits a wide variety of mission-specific configurations.
A number of mission variants are currently under development including, a troop carrier for transporting an infantry section and a field ambulance.”
Rheinmetall Defence Australia also has operations in Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne, Townsville as well as Wellington in New Zealand.
