Once regarded as the poor relation in Defence acquisition expenditure, Army is now benefitting, or preparing to benefit, from a series of programs that will dramatically enhance capability in the Land domain.

At the time of writing, the Land 400 program was half way through the risk mitigation activity (RMA) between Rheinmetall’s Boxer and the BAE Systems/Patria AMV35. ADM Editor Katherine Ziesing checked in with the industry players and program director to get an idea of what’s been happening.

A proposal to introduce a multi-role 35mm gun system into the RAN could broaden capabilities and provide potential commonality with the ground-based air defence requirement being sought under Project Land 19 Phase 7B.

With pilot production getting underway later this year at Thales Australia’s Bendigo facility, Army’s Hawkei light protected mobility vehicle (PMV) will soon gain a higher profile.

Since reporting extensively on Land 19 Phase 7 in the March edition of ADM, there is a new factor to consider: Air 6500. Phases 1 and 2 of this RAAF-led program will replace Vigilare and shape the long-range element of air defence for the wider ADF, while Land 19 Phase 7B from Army will look at the short and medium ranges.

General Dynamics Land Systems has revealed that it will propose three vehicles for the Land 400 Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) requirement under Phase 3 of the program.

The tracked Puma Infantry Fighting Vehicle (I) is being offered for land 400 Phase 3 by Projekt Systems Management (PSM), a joint venture between Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann and Rheinmetall Defence established to coordinate the vehicle's development, production, and sales.

BAE Systems Australia unveiled its Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle competitor for Land 400 Phase 2 on June 2, when it presented the AMV35 to industry for the first time in Melbourne, at the beginning of a national tour.

The Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle is a joint development from Rheinmetall Defence, Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW).

The surprise public unveiling in June of the Rheinmetall Lynx IFV has added a new and potent platform to the Phase 3 lineup

The first Boxer 8x8 Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV) to sport Australian camouflage was a focal point at Rheinmetall Defence's annual Land Forces Symposium in Germany, together with impressive day and night firepower demonstrations and some stimulating insights into the future development of armoured vehicles.

At Eurosatory 2016 Rheinmetall has presented its new Lynx infantry fighting vehicle and Land 400 contender to the international public for the first time.

On the surface, one of the surprises delivered by the recent Defence Integrated Investment Program (DIIP) was the plan to replace Army’s Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) from the middle of the next decade.

News last week that the Risk Mitigation Activity for Phase 2 of Land 400 will be re-examined is a mixed blessing.

Ground based air defence (GBAD) for the Army has been a long time in the making under the various phases of Land 19. ADM examines what we currently have in play and where the program is likely to go in terms of technology and concepts under later phases.

Nearly 10 years after the first of three RfIs for Project Land 400 was issued, the process that will create a shortlist of contenders for the most expensive element of Army’s most-expensive capability program is now under way.