Rheinmetall Defence Australia and BlueScope have signed a deal for BlueScope to provide flat steel production feedstock for the production of the Boxer CRV should that vehicle be selected for the Project LAND 400 Phase 2 combat reconnaissance vehicle requirement.
The deal builds on one already in place where BlueScope’s Port Kembla steelworks is already working alongside Rheinmetall and Illawarra steel processing company Bisalloy Steel to be in a position to potentially deliver multiple grades of armoured steel for processing and supply to local and export military vehicle programs including Land 400.
Rheinmetall Defence Australia Managing Director Gary Stewart said the company was proud to deliver military vehicles that protected Australian soldiers with high performance steel designed, developed and manufactured by two great Australian companies.
“Australian steel underpins our plans to establish a new national military vehicle industry delivering to the Australian Defence force and export customers,” Mr Stewart said. “BlueScope Steel is the nation’s premiere steel producer and Bisalloy Armour steel is a leading product for defence applications in Australia and export markets.”
Rheinmetall has also placed an order with Bisalloy to procure about 15 tonnes of armoured steel which will be shipped to Germany for mechanical, blast and ballistic testing. This represents the next step in the qualification process of Australian armoured steel for use in the next generation of Australian military vehicles, and in global Rheinmetall programs through the company’s the Global Supply Chain.