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German armoured vehicle manufacturer Rheinmetall has presented the Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) and Lynx Manoeuvre Support Vehicle (MSV) for the Australian Army’s LAND 400 Phase 3 – Mounted Close Combat Capability request for tender (RFT).
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Under the tender, Rheinmetall has offered the Lynx IFV with the Lance turret, Lynx MSV, an established and growing network of suppliers across Australia, continued use of the Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) in Queensland, and a comprehensive support and training system.
The Lynx IFV and the Lynx MSV have been designed and tested to meet the demanding requirements of the Australian Army, NATO and NATO allies. Lynx establishes a vehicle system with unmatched levels of survivability, mobility, lethality, knowledge, and growth that will excel in close combat operations.
Rheinmetall’s global head of vehicle systems, Ben Hudson, said, "The significant protected volume within the Lynx vehicle is unmatched in this class, and ensures the three crew and a minimum of six dismounts can conduct effective close combat operations while providing unrivalled growth and flexibility for the future."
The Lynx IFV and the Lynx MSV have been designed and tested to meet the demanding requirements of the Australian Army, NATO and NATO allies. Lynx establishes a vehicle system with unmatched levels of survivability, mobility, lethality, knowledge and growth that will excel in close combat operations.
The modular architecture of the Lynx also delivers significant cost benefits by drawing on Rheinmetall’s expertise and extensive development of contemporary combat vehicles, resulting in a system that requires only two Lynx base vehicle configurations to fulfil the nine roles sought under the Australian Army’s RFT. The modular system architecture also covers the four additional roles sought in the Australia Army’s RFT, including:
- A fire support 120mm mortar variant;
- A logistics support variant; and
- A protected amphibious-variant Lynx which will enhance the amphibious capability and survivability of the Australian Army when deploying from the Canberra Class LHDs and other large amphibious warfare ships.
"The Australian Army deserves an infantry fighting vehicle that will ensure their soldiers can fight, survive and win on the modern battlefield. If selected for LAND 400 Phase 3, the Lynx will provide the Australian Army with a future-proof vehicle solution that can rapidly transition into service and be easily supported through life," Hudson added.
Lynx provides protection against the full spectrum of threats including blast, IED, direct and indirect fire, cluster munitions, and anti-tank guided missiles. With enhanced lethality and the mobility of a main battle tank, Lynx will enable Army to cope with the complex nature of warfighting in diverse environments and against a range of adaptive threats.
The Rheinmetall Lance turret is contracted to be delivered to the Australian Army's Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRV), under LAND 400 Phase 2, and will be manufactured in Brisbane for the local and export markets. The digital Lance turret provides the crew with sensor systems, advanced automatic tracking and targeting capabilities, and weapon integrated battle management all in a connected and digitally enabled platform.
This common electronic architecture provides enhanced combat effectiveness for the crew, generating a range of scalable and precise effects to deal with threats on the current and future battlefield.
As part of Rheinmetall's offering for both the LAND 400 Phase 2 and the LAND 400 Phase 3 programs, the company is establishing an enduring Australian industrial capability with the construction of the MILVEHCOE near Brisbane.
"The Australian Army will benefit from the Lynx IFV that will be designed, built and supported from the MILVEHCOE, with an expanded Australia-wide military vehicle industrial network," Rheinmetall Defence Australia managing director Gary Stewart said.
By the time LAND 400 Phase 3 is contracted, the MILVEHCOE and its supporting national military vehicle industry network of Australian suppliers will be qualified for all of the common systems and components required for the Rheinmetall Lynx and Lance solution.
Components and designs already incorporated into the Lynx platform are supplied from companies located around Australia like Supashock in Adelaide, Cablex in Melbourne, Bisalloy Steels in Wollongong and Milspec Manufacturing in Albury. Ongoing investment by Rheinmetall in research and product development directly contributes to Australian Lynx and Lance designs and foundation technologies. Coupled with targeted global opportunities, this creates new export orders for Australian industry.
LAND 400 Phase 3 is a $10-15 billion Army program that will recapitalise Army’s Vietnam-era M113 armoured personnel carrier (APC) force, with a combination of a tracked IFV and tracked APC. The broader LAND 400 project will deliver enhanced levels of survivability to the Joint Land Force, including sensors, weapons and information systems that will be networked to strategic intelligence platforms.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
