Page 6 - Australian Defence Magazine November 2019
P. 6

NEWS REVIEW
INDUSTRY UPDATE
Rheinmetall and Hanwha shortlisted for Land 400 Phase 3
Rheinmetall's Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) and Hanwha's Redback IFV.
and refine the offers to mitigate risk to the Commonwealth (and) Stage 2 is antici- pated to conclude around the end of 2021,” Defence said. “The project will then under- take the Stage 3 final evaluation and down- selection of a preferred tenderer.”
The Request for Tender (RfT) closed on 1 March. Defence previously expressed a preference for manned turrets on the IFV proposal, viewing unmanned turrets as 'too technologically immature' for current re- quirements. This view lead to PSM deciding not to offer its Puma IFV for the RfT, leav- ing the four contenders above, and now two.
The current timeline will see Land 400 Phase 3 return to Government for consid- eration in 2022.
ADM Comment: Many believe the gov- ernment's election-eve decision to revive a program to acquire self-propelled howitzers (now named Land 8116) will influence the final decision for Land 400 Phase 3.
Others point to Rheinmetall's success in Phase 2 as an influential factor, although Defence has previously told ADM that it has 'de-linked' Phase 2 and Phase 3.
THE Commonwealth has shortlisted Rhe- inmetall's Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) and Hanwha's Redback IFV for Land 400 Phase 3.
The two bids will now progress to the Risk Mitigation Activity (RMA) stage, leaving GDLS's Ajax and BAE Systems' CV90 IFVs unsuccessful.
Land 400 Phase 3 is seeking to acquire up to 450 tracked IFVs to replace the M113AS4 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) which, although upgraded, have
been in service since the Vietnam War. It is the largest Land investment in Australian history, worth ~$15 billion.
The proposed vehicle mobilisation period for the RMA has been extended from six months to 12 months, which Defence says will provide the two successful tenderers with a more reasonable timeline in which to manufacture and prepare test vehicles to the configuration required.
“Concurrent activities and workshops will also be undertaken in order to clarify
Boeing Defence Australia chief Darren Edwards passes away
BOEING has announced the death of Darren Edwards, the vice president and managing di- rector of Boeing Defence Austra- lia (BDA).
Edwards passed away at the age of 51. The cause of death has not been determined.
He is survived by his wife Kris and their two sons.
“Darren was not just a talented leader who helped transform Boeing’s defence business in Australia, he was a respected and trusted colleague and mentor to count- less people inside and outside the company,” Leanne Caret, president and CEO of Boe- ing Defense, Space & Security, said.
“The global Boeing team mourns the loss of Darren, a smart, warm and funny indi- vidual who is best remembered as a husband and father, a veteran, and a friend.”
Edwards joined Boeing in 2000 where he
held a series of leadership roles in the US and Australia that spanned human resources, sup- ply chain management, and op- erations. From 2015 to his 2017 appointment leading BDA, Ed- wards was the general manager Australia & NZ for Salentis.
From 1986 to 2000, Edwards was an Australian Army Officer where he held numerous command and lo-
gistic appointments.
“The career of integrity and honour
that Darren forged from his beginnings in the Australian Army straight through his time at Boeing demonstrated his unwaver- ing commitment to those in uniform and ensuring that they have what they need to protect and defend Australia and its allies,” Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Global Services, said.
Melbourne Institute of Technology and UNSW, and was a graduate of the Aus- tralian Defence Force Academy and Royal Military College, Duntroon.
Boeing has named Scott Carpendale as acting vice president and managing direc- tor for BDA.
The team here at ADM extend our deep- est sympathies to Darren's family, friends and colleagues.
COMING UP IN DEC ADM
• Annual Top 40 Defence Contractors and Top 20 SMEs survey.
• Project review and preview for the year that was and the year ahead.
Edwards held degrees from the Royal
6 | November 2019 | www.australiandefence.com.au
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