LAND 400 Phase 3

Both contenders for the largest acquisition project in the history of the Australian Army were officially unveiled in Canberra in March.

Two infantry fighting vehicle contenders are currently undergoing evaluation and, once delivered, will provide the Army with an advanced, mounted, close-combat capability.

Each company has delivered three prototypes for more than a year of torture testing by the Army.

Acting Minister for Defence Marise Payne said up to 450 infantry fighting vehicles would be acquired at a project cost of up to $27billion.

“These next generation infantry fighting vehicles will provide Australian soldiers with higher levels of protection, mobility, firepower and connectivity,” Minister Payne said.

The two shortlisted tenderers for LAND 400 Phase 3 project are Rheinmetall, offering its KF-41 Lynx, and Hanwha, with its Redback.

If successful, both companies have proposed to build the the majority of the fleet in Australia – Rheinmetall in Queensland or Hanwha in Victoria.

Attending the official unveiling in Canberra, former Army Major General Senator Jim Molan said Defence was seeking a tracked infantry fighting vehicle capable of accommodating six soldiers in addition to a crew of three.

“Hanwha Defense Australia and Rheinmetall Defence Australia have each delivered three prototype vehicles which will be tested over the course of this year, as part of a two-year risk mitigation activity,” Senator Molan said.

A decision on the preferred tenderer will be presented to government for consideration in 2022.

The infantry fighting vehicles will replace the current M113 armoured personnel carriers that have been in service since the mid-1960s.