Rheinmetall has announced an export order in excess of $150 million dollars from Australia to the Hungarian Armed Forces to supply digital Lance turrets, which will be designed and manufactured at the company’s new Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) in South East Queensland.
Last month, the Hungarian government announced that it was entering a joint venture to supply the Hungarian armed forces with 218 Lynx infantry fighting vehicles. Under the agreement, which is worth over two billion euros, Hungary, a NATO and EU member state, will become the first customer for Rheinmetall’s next-generation IFV.
The program includes the digital Lance turret to enable the crew to access sensor systems, advanced automatic tracking and targeting capabilities and weapon- integrated battle management all in one connected and enabled platform.
Exports from Australia and Germany are a key part of the program as the Hungarian joint venture constructs local manufacturing operations during the first phase of production. This will see at least 30 of the first 46 digital Lance turrets supplied from Australia during Phase 1.
“We welcome this major export contract, and we look forward to the follow on turret and kit orders to be awarded by other European customers,” Gary Stewart, Chief Executive of Rheinmetall Vehicle Systems Asia Pacific and Managing Director of Rheinmetall Defence Australia, said.
The Hungarian export program will reportedly be expanded in the coming months to include a further 127 Lance turret kits from Rheinmetall Defence Australia, and Australian-designed and manufactured products supplied by local SMEs including automotive running gear from Adelaide’s Supashock, high capacity alternators from Albury’s Milspec Manufacturing and armour steel from Bisalloy in Wollongong.
“Design, development and manufacture of these systems will build on the advanced manufacturing jobs at our MILVEHCOE development, production and test facility in Queensland, as well as the strong industrial network of SMEs across Australia,” Stewart said.