Page 44 - Australian Defence Magazine September 2019

LAND FORCES
LAND 400
“RDA’s Stewart points out that although the MILVEHCOE is based in Queensland, the facility will be a focal point for what is a national endeavour,”
ADM - DAVID JONES
The industry engagement model has evolved considerably between Land 121 and Land 400 for RDA.
lia will provide driver’s aids for night time situational awareness, and Brisbane-based ABI Coating Specialists will supply paint and finish. More contracts are due to be an- nounced in coming weeks.
Companies such as Cablex have been building products for Rheinmetall’s inter- national programs already, including Boxer programs in Germany and Lithuania.
engineers into Europe to learn how to build Boxers, engineers coming from Europe to Australia to support the technology trans- fer and increase RDA’s ability to use those skills and expertise to develop Australian skills and eventually transition that capa- bility locally.
“Rheinmetall is moving from 30 per cent AIC with the logistics vehicles to more than 50 per cent with the CRVs. Good results from Land 121 suppliers are now producing good op- tions for RDA on Land 400 Phase 2, and equally, presenting clear go-to op-
tions for Lynx as well.”
Timing between programs
In lining up MILVE- HCOE production sched-
ules, Land 121 3b/5b finishes as Land 400 Phase 2 ramps up, and Phase 2 will finish in 2026 as Land 400 Phase 3 ramps up.
Although RDA declined to discuss commercial issues with ADM, the ra- tionale for the MILVEHCOE and its long-term future appears to reflect the
impact of Defence’s development of the Osborne naval shipbuilding precinct – once a sovereign manufacturing capa- bility has been established in a specific sector, would it make sense for anyone to duplicate that capability?
RDA’s Stewart points out that although the MILVEHCOE is based in Queensland, the facility will be a focal point for what is a national endeavour, and substantial jobs and opportunities will also be created in other states.
“This will allow us to establish a national, sovereign military vehicle capability that underpins and enduring partnership with the Commonwealth to design, manufac- ture, deliver, support and modernise this world-leading capability,” he said.
Comment
Being selected for Land 400 Phase 3 is clearly of major importance to the MIL- VEHCOE. However, it would not appear to be a gamechanger for a facility that already has contracted work through to 2026, major sustainment and upgrade re- sponsibilities, and what Rheinmetall says will be a strong focus on product develop- ment and export.
“That’s part of RDA’s technology trans- fer; to get them qualified on Rheinmetall’s global program and then have them ready for delivering content into the Australian program, that’s one approach, ” commented one source close to the program.
“The second approach is about sending
44 | September 2019 | www.australiandefence.com.au