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The defence prime has struck an agreement with a Townsville-based firm to provide maintenance services for logistics vehicles.
Rheinmetall Defence Australia (RDA) has announced the signing of a deed of agreement with Townsville-based RGM Maintenance, aimed at supporting the delivery of medium and heavy capability services for logistics vehicles as part of the LAND 121 project.
Specifically, RDA has committed to delivering field service representatives, parts, tools, equipment and technical support to RGM.
The agreement is tipped to bolster job and training opportunities in the region, while also supporting Australia’s broader ambitions to build sovereign industrial capability.
“This ongoing opportunity expands the capability and strength of our business for the Australian Defence Force,” Gary Stewart, managing director of Rheinmetall Defence Australia, said.
“This true partnership between our companies will enable RGM to expand the services they already provide to the Commonwealth Joint Logistics Unit supporting Townsville units.
“I’m delighted that RDA will bring a raft of industry experience to the RGM business and provide a true industrial capability for the region, for now and years to come.”
RGM owners Russell Newman and Greg Jackson welcomed the opportunity to work alongside RDA to sustain the Australian Army’s logistics vehicles capability.
“RGM is delighted to become a Rheinmetall Australian Industry Capability partner and a member of the company’s global supply chain,” the pair noted in a statement.
“The many skills and years of experience this collaboration will bring are countless to Townsville,” they said.”
RDA was contracted to supply more than 2,500 protected and unprotected military logistic trucks and modules to the Australian Army under the LAND 121 Phase 3B program.
Vehicles delivered as part of the project include:
- heavy integrated load handling (HX-77)
- heavy tipper (HX-77);
- medium tipper (40-M)
- tractor (HX-81)
- heavy recovery (45M)
- medium-weight tray with Crane (40M)
- medium-weight tray (40M)
In 2018, the government extended Rheinmetall’s contract, requesting an additional 1,044 vehicles and 872 modules, as well as ongoing support to the capability.
[Related: Rheinmetall to supply German Armed Forces with fleet of fuel tank trucks]
