Announcements late last week by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Rheinmetall Defence Australia will see local steel producers and manufacturers such as Bluescope and Bisalloy working to deliver high grade armour products for military vehicles both in Australia and abroad, with applications for shipbuilding programs also envisaged.
Speaking with ADM, Bisalloy business manager (Armour) Justin Suwart said that the $900k contract with Rafael to produce add-on armour for armoured fighting vehicles was a significant step forward for the company.
“This is forming a great business base for us in a high value market, so we’re looking at putting on another three to six people. We’re running our production facility 24/5 at present but are looking to go 24/6 – that’s with three shifts a day.”
The high specification armour will be produced to meet Rafael’s unique requirements.
“We’re hoping to get further orders of this magnitude or larger in the future,” Suwart said.
Bisalloy is also the preferred supplier for the steel armour for the Rheinmetall Boxer CRV, currently pitted against the BAE Systems AMV35 for Army’s armoured reconnaissance vehicle program under Land 400 Phase 2. Rheinmetall has also signed an agreement with flat steel producer Bluescope to potentially deliver thousands of tonnes of feedstock for the local production of high performance armour steel for a new national military vehicle industry.
“So Bluescope will come on board and they will supply us,” Suwart said. Bisalloy and Rheinmetall are working to complete a stringent certification process that would see Australia producing top grade armour on par with that currently produced by European suppliers for the German-headquartered company.
Suwart told ADM that last week the company had received its first order to supply armoured steel product into Germany.
“It looks like they’re going to do a lot of testing on our steel to see if it’s suitable for that application.”
According to Suwart, Bisalloy is also engaging with Rheinmetall rival BAE Systems on Land 400, despite the prime being committed to an all-Swedish steel solution.
“If the Government stipulates mandatory use of Australian steel then we’re standing by – we’re also working with them to provide their requirements for their Sea 5000 Global Combat Ship should they be successful in that program.” Suwart mentioned options for armouring of the bridge for the GCS had been contemplated.
“Depending on whether they’ll need high strength steel for other parts of the superstructure or indeed the hull, we are ready to assist.”
Bisalloy is also engaged with winning OPV designer Luerssen for Sea 1180.
“We’re trying to get our product certified for that application which is new for us – it’s a very light vessel.”
Suwart said the outcomes are a very good result for Australian steel.
“The Government’s decision to go with a continuous build program means that potentially we’ll be engaged for the next twenty to thirty years with defence work.”