Rheinmetall has today announced a partnership with Melbourne-based defence systems integrator Tectonica Australia for the development and manufacture of a sophisticated Local Situational Awareness System (LSAS) for the Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV) under the Land 400 Phase 2 Request For Tender.
Rheinmetall Defence Australia managing director Andrew Fletcher said Rheinmetall would provide funding and support to Tectonica to develop and manufacture a next generation LSAS that enhances the situational awareness of the Boxer CRV.
“Rheinmetall is delighted to partner with Tectonica, a proven leader in the Australian Defence industry that employs highly skilled engineers and manufacturing workers, invests significantly in research and development and exports its products globally,” Mr Fletcher said.
Mr Fletcher said Tectonica was among 300 companies that met with Rheinmetall executives through June and July as part of its comprehensive supplier engagement activity in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Darwin and Adelaide.
In the event Boxer is selected, Tectonica will manufacture the LSAS and Rheinmetall will offer it for export through its global supply chain, ensuring ongoing local support for the ADF whilst securing Australian jobs.
“We are pleased to have this opportunity to provide a vital situational awareness capability to the ADF in partnership with a world leader in armoured vehicles,” Tectonica managing director David Levy said.
The president of Rheinmetall’s Combat Platforms Business Unit Ben Hudson said the company was committed to the creation of an enduring Australian capability beyond the minimum Land 400 Australian Industry Capability (AIC) requirements and the application of Australian technology for global requirements.
“Tectonica has provided an innovative proposal that will dramatically increase the situational awareness of the BOXER CRV crew and we see potential application not only to the Boxer CRV but also to our wider family of military vehicles in-service around the world,” Hudson said.