Australia is a step closer to finalising a major deal to provide Boxer heavy weapon carrier vehicles to the German Army.
Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy and his German counterpart, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Defence Thomas Hitschler, have signed a Letter of Cooperation to start formal negotiations to produce the vehicles in Queensland for export to Germany.
Under the deal, more than 100 Boxers would be produced by Rheinmetall at its Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence in Brisbane.
Mr Conroy said the Government was “excited about the prospect of Boxers for the German Army being built in Brisbane, using suppliers across Australia” as part of what could be one of Australia’s largest defence export contracts.
“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,” Mr Conroy said.
Defence will now enter into formal negotiations with the German Ministry of Defence and Rheinmetall to establish appropriate legal and commercial arrangements.
