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Rheinmetall Defence Australia has received locally-produced products from an Australian 3D printing and manufacturing firm in support of its push for the LAND 400 contract.
Melbourne-based GoProto ANZ has delivered 3D products to Rheinmetall Defence Australia (RDA) for its Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), proposed for selection as part of the Commonwealth government’s LAND 400 Phase 3 program.
Following consultation with RDA’s Team Lynx, GoProto 3D printed a range of functional PA12 components, including handles and communications panels, with multi-jet fusion technology.
“GoProto’s 3D printing technology allowed quick, clear and efficient communication around the design of the vehicle connectivity package involving teams juggling work from home lockdowns in different states,” Simon Marriott, managing director of GoProto ANZ, said.
“As a SME offering local additive manufacturing services, we are able to respond quickly to design challenges and put different prototypes with full production functionality into the hands of the Rheinmetall team.
“We look forward to more opportunities to incorporate 3D printing as an Australian industry capability with Rheinmetall and a sovereign advantage for the Australian Defence Force.”
RDA is now expected to conduct user testing analysis to select the best solution among three lightweight communications panels, designed for soldiers’ rapid dismounting within vehicles.
Three Lynx vehicles are currently competing against Hanwha’s Redback IFVs in risk mitigation activity trials conducted in Australia, which include lethality, mobility and blast testing.
If selected for the AND 400 program, RDA has committed to manufacturing the Lynx fleet in Queensland at its new Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence in Redbank, south-west of Brisbane.
[Related: Rheinmetall’s StrikeShield selected for Hungary’s IFVs]
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