Rheinmetall submits best-and-final LAND400 offer – no details released

Rheinmetall has submitted the company’s Lynx infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) best and final offer for the Australian Department of Defence Land 400 Phase 3 Mounted Close Combat Capability tender – but gave no specific details.

Rheinmetall Defence Australia Managing Director Gary Stewart said Lynx was a next-generation tracked, digitised and highly protected IFV that and offered a step-change in Army’s capabilities.

“Lynx sets the new standard and offers unmatched levels of survivability, mobility, lethality, knowledge and growth,” Mr Stewart said.

“Importantly, Lynx is ready to protect Australians in the field and defeat any adversary.

“Lynx is fitted with the Rheinmetall Lance turret for precise and lethal effects and offers an integrated battle management system.

“Designed for close-combat operations, the extensive family of Lynx vehicles is modular.

“Lynx can be easily configured and reconfigured, to all 10 roles required by the Army.”

Rheinmetall said it had developed Lynx with a growth path to meet continually evolving military needs throughout its anticipated 40-year life.

Submitting the best and final offer represents the final deliverable of the two-year Risk Management Activity (RMA) undertaken by the Department of Defence, involving 12 months of rigorous testing by Army.

The company said it was impressed with the professional and flexible approach taken by Defence in response to COVID during the RMA.

“The fact that Army and Defence’s Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group has completed perhaps the most comprehensive testing in the world of these IFVs is outstanding” Mr Stewart said.

“The testing and associated working-group discussions have mitigated a number of risks, confirmed vehicle and company performance, and improved the access for more Australian companies to be involved in this program.”

Mr. Stewart said Rheinmetall’s offer also included a “special project” that was sure to pique the interest of not only the Australian Defence Force, but international export markets as well

“Incorporating a great deal of engineering design and innovation, I am very much looking forward to unveiling the Rheinmetall special project.”

Mr Stewart said that Rheinmetall’s demonstrated commitment to Australian industry capability (AIC) through the Land 121 and Land 400 Phase 2 programs would continue to expand for the Lynx program.

“The Australian Army will benefit from the Lynx IFV that will be designed, built and supported from Rheinmetall’s Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence, with an expanded Australia-wide military-vehicle industry network.

“In addition to the engineering of the system design Rheinmetall undertook in Australia with our key Australian partners, we are continuing to identify more Australian companies to supply technologies into Lynx, as part of our ongoing ‘design to manufacture in Australia’ activities.

“Today, we have well in excess of 100 small to medium enterprises that are manufacturing parts for Lynx, thereby providing employment and economic growth opportunities across regional and capital cities in Australia.

“Rheinmetall’s bid will see the Lynx sustained and enhanced locally throughout its service life, building on Rheinmetall’s existing employment base which supports hundreds of high-technology design and manufacturing jobs in fields as diverse as electro-optics, weapon systems, vehicle and turret manufacturing, armour systems and simulation.

“Lynx’s Lance turret – already in manufacture for the Australian Boxer CRV program and an export customer – provides high degrees of commonality and interoperability for the soldier.

“Allowing rapid transition across platforms, a common turret would simplify Army’s training system and reduce in-service support costs, providing the customer with tangible benefits from day one.

“Manufactured at Rheinmetall’s Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) in Redbank, Queensland, the company will provide whole-of-fleet management, training and through-life support of Lynx.”

 

.

.


.


.