Well if the Germans want to do that, that is up to them. It would be stupid, reduce their capabilities in a time where there is a high intensity war in Europe. It would also damage the relationship with a useful global middle power and it would also damage Germany's reputation and hurt future military sales.An extract from tomorrow’s Australian on Land. 400 suggests that the German Boxer order will not go ahead.
The move to award the contract to one of Australia’s closest trading partners will strengthen relations with a vital player in East Asian diplomacy. But it will go down badly in Germany and wider Europe, where Australia is trying to seal a free trade deal amid stiff opposition and after the Morrison government cancelled France’s Attack-class submarines contract.
Mr Conroy rang both bidders on Wednesday night to deliver the news. A source close to Rheinmetall said its Brisbane factory would now likely close in 2026, and the promised export orders would disappear.
Australia will not be bullied by any powerful nation to be forced by coercion to buy shitty equipment.
EU FTA be screwed. If the EU can't see value in adding Australia as a fundamentally stable produce supplier thats fines.
Seems like a pretty big tangible and real issue to me.It’s understood Rheinmetall was told its Lynx vehicle had a “fundamental vibration issue”. The issue was linked to the vehicles all-metal tracks, which were said to have made several testers ill.
Also, around 2026, the world disorder will be clearer. At or before that point we can order more from an already running production line locally. Or repurpose that line for another type of military equipment.
Either by 2027 the world is on the edge of global war, which should be obvious, or its not. I would expect after making 100 odd and being 2026, we might want to reconsider the fit out and equipment spec any way. The Bushmaster is a good example, initial order was tiny, now there are 1000 of them, and they are internationally recognised as being really good kit, even at the end of their production life, even though war has shifted from counter insurgency in the desert to WW2 style artillery dominated battlefields in Europe, with drones and land mines.
Given that both land400 items are in place, I think Australia will clear out its existing M113 and ASLAV stocks. We now have a timeframe and can manage the end date for these fleets. This will strengthen the need for more Boxer and Hanwha redbacks, and probably more Hanwha Huntsmans.