Rheinmetall and Frontline Manufacturing are demonstrating Australian sovereign capability with the manufacture of the Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) hull, destined for the USA’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) campaign.
Rheinmetall Defence Australia Managing Director, Gary Stewart, said Frontline Manufacturing had purchased a 'state-of-the-art' steel folding machine with the help of a sovereign defence industry grant, and is now capable of bending the Lynx IFV hull, made with Australia’s Bisalloy Steel, using its full 1500 tonnes of capability to achieve the outcome.
Stewart said that while manufacture of the Lynx is completed at Rheinmetall’s Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) at Redbank, Queensland, a growing number of Australia’s manufacturing companies are joining the industry network for military vehicles.
“Frontline Manufacturing is an Australian success story. Established in 1996, the company worked hard to establish a knowledge-based Metal Component manufacturing business," Stewart said. "In recent years, Frontline Manufacturing has increased its capabilities with the support of companies like Rheinmetall, to offer services including cutting and folding of military vehicle hulls.
“Employing local workers in specialised trades and working on programs such as the Lynx IFV ensures critical skills are retained in Australia,” he added.
Stewart said that the Australian manufactured Lynx IFV Chassis was destined for Rheinmetall’s OMFV campaign to showcase advanced automotive capabilities in the Lynx platform.
“The Lynx vehicle export order will be delivered to Rheinmetall in the United States supporting the business’ worldwide activities underway in the OMFV competition for the USA’s Bradley fighting vehicle replacement program.
“Lynx is a next generation fighting vehicle with unmatched protection and lethality. Rheinmetall has developed a next generation electronic architecture to ensure on-board sensors, systems and effectors are able to be networked into the USA’s Department of Defense’s broader network architecture," he added.