Bisalloy Steels has reported 'significant' progress with the development of specialised armour steel for the Land 400 Phase 2 program, as part of the company’s partnership with Rheinmetall.
Bisalloy was selected by Rheinmetall to supply steel for the Boxers, and the two companies are now working to achieve the required German Government qualification required to meet protection levels required on the Boxer. This qualification process can take up to two years to achieve.
With full qualification approaching, Bisalloy hosted members of Rheinmetall’s technical and project team at its Wollongong facility in February. Further testing in Germany will take place in April with a specific focus on blast tests.
Bisalloy is also working closely with Rheinmetall as part of the company’s response to the Land 400 Phase 3 Request for Tender for 400 Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) to the ADF under a program estimated to cost approximately $10 billion.
“Bisalloy Steels’ achieving German Government qualification will reconfirm the company’s emergence as a world class supplier of armour grade steel,” Justin Suwart, Bisalloy Steels’ Business Manager Armour said.
“It will ensure supply to the Land 400 Phase 2 vehicles and qualifies Bisalloy to work globally with Rheinmetall on future projects including Land 400 Phase 3 and defence programs offshore."
Rheinmetall is in the early stages of construction of the company’s Australia-NZ Headquarters and Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) in Ipswich, Queensland. Once operational in late 2020, the new facility will become a regional hub with an expected program of continuous design, build and support for military vehicles in Australia and the Asia Pacific.
Bisalloy is Australia’s only manufacturer of impact resistant, armour and protection grade steels and the company has a long history of collaboration with the ADF, with Bisalloy's Armour steel first developed in the 1980s for use in the hulls of the RAN’s Adelaide Class frigates.
Since then, it has been used in several other local defence projects, including the Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicles.