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.
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.
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.
