Ukraine has shown mass matters. I’m not sure the purchase number will be enough. Particularly with consideration to the small number of IFV’s we’re purchasing innparalllel
@@peterryan4851 you're ignoring a crucial fact I stated in my comment - Australia is dedicating industry to build them here. If/when a large conflict happens, those numbers can now be quickly increased. The real issue (and what I assume you're referring to) is the decision to reduce the number of Redback IFVs, being that we don't manufacture them here.
@@peterryan4851 Ukraine has a border with their enemy. Australian military doctrine is to stop them getting here, not to win battles in major cities after they get here.
Being able to produce weapons yourself and not rely on others is always an advantage. In addition, the Boxer gives you the opportunity to cover almost any application scenario with just one vehicle, thanks to its modular design. So they have 211 multi-functional vehicles, whereas without the Boxer they would need 211 specific combat vehicles and hundreds of others to be able to cover the tasks of reconnaissance, medical, command posts or mountains and bridge-laying functions, these would also cost money again. In addition, the Boxer is already tried and tested and is therefore less prone to errors than others. The quality also speaks for itself and you can rely on the boxer. The Boxer is also my absolute favorite vehicle in the German Army. You can't even imagine how big he is, in the videos and pictures he always looks smaller than in real life. Look into your room and imagine a boxer coming through the wall that is 3m wide, 3.4m high and 8.3m long :o It's a monster.
G'day I'm an retired Grunt from 1 RAR and l think building up our Military manufacturing is a must as the world is changing at a fast past and if anything happens we need too stand on our own two feet and not rely on others, thank for the video, very informative, cheers.
Mate,if the US demands we stop all trading with our biggest partners just to screw us economically,the government will do it and then pay billions for the advice
@@jacobkuntflapp yea but you need to rely on NATO for defence. Doesn't mean you shouldn't invest in your own defence, but you will never be able to beat China in a 1v1. You need others. And that's okay
German company Rheinmetall and Australia both won here. Even though Rheinmetall has massive productions facilities in Germany, they and the German gov decided to built their Rec vehicles in Austrialia due to competency and availability.
@@NotUnymous First of all: that someone is competence doesn't mean someone else isn't. So no talks about lack of competency here. But honestly, the main resources and competency of productions for the lanced turret version is in Australia and the BW wanted that vehicle on shot notice. Rheinmetall produces and focus on the unmanned turret version (forgot the name) in Germany I understand. Btw BW ordered these as well as I understand.
@@ronaldotrumph8960 Germany mainly ordered Boxer's APC variant which are produced in Germany, but they also ordered a reconnaissance version which is almost identical to the Australian version. So the half finished Boxer is exported to Australia and then completed and then exported back to Germany. The unmanned turret version was considered as it was the same version used in the Puma IFV. But that turret is built by Rheinmetall's competitor KNDS, I think Rheinmetall had an interest in the "Australian" version. It is also likely that Germany buys the RCHF 155 artillery version of the Boxer. The only artillery system that can fire on the move.
the german government has very little to say in these matters, the reason rheinmetall is setting up production in australia is because the australian government paid extra for license production so they could have strategic independence, not because of competency and availability, australia would actually be a very bad place for rheinmetall to do any manufacturing
Not sure about competency. Our engineers couldnt manage to secure a box, widen seats, stop cartridges coming into the cabin and fix a fan on the Taipan helicopters.
You can not divide 5 billion dollars by 211 vehicles and come up with "each boxer will cost $25 million a piece" The cost associated with Land 400 Phase 2 include ...Training( and wages of the crew)Ammunition,,consumables such as tyres,oil.petrol,PPE. the list goes on and on of associated costs for the whole life cycle of the Boxer. The Australian Government always gives a life cycle cost of any projects associated with the ADF .
People do that for the german boxer purchases too and act like it's a scam but without training, spare parts, etc. they are basically not worth anything because they won't be operational.
In my country they budget armament acquisition almost the same (except training and wages I believe, since our army is conscription based), plus the price usually also includes one upgrade package during it‘s lifetime. That really puts the costs in a differen light.
Yep anyone interested should google whole life cost accounting. Thats how the ADF budgets our defence purchases. The all up price for these is less than 25 million. Also note that in the last few days theres been announcement of about 300 extra purchases of boxer by various countries. At the current rate the brisbane facility might get some extra orders of take some of the a waiting list of the german and british lines
I'm confused. Wages of the crew throughout the program's lifetime or just the wages while they undergo training to use the machines? Same for the other consumarables like tyres, oils, fuels etc. Are these for the life of the program? Edit: Looks like it has a high profile.
It was only today i was speaking with my friend on leave (Australian army ASLAV CRV Driver) he said they are trying not to break any of the existing ASLAV's untill the new Boxer's arrive because of the mechanical part scarcity and maintenance costs. so YES to defend the land we love so dearly the Boxer's are an non- negotiable
lol. Nothing has changed then. When we first got the LAV we only had 1 trailer load of parts. Then we had to mod the vehicle for Australian conditions - tyres in particular were crap. Fun fact - with the aslav you could accelerate on hard lock in 8-wheel drive then flick it to 4 wheel and start doing donuts.
@@hylimm control of the population in then next epidemic BS coming ?Organized warfare appears to have started in the Neolithic Age and then ramped up during the Bronze Age. People have been killing each other since as long as there have been people its just got more technical how we mutilate each other
I recently saw a Boxer CRV on display at Gallipoli Barracks and it is huge. Like it is even larger than our M1A1 Abrams tanks. Really scary and impressive that thing is.
Shame this video didn’t show it next to the ASLAV, which is already a tall vehicle. In our flat largely desert country, it’s going to stand out like dogs ⚽️⚽️
I am not familiar with the Patria. The things I know about the Boxer tell me it is an incredible versatile and powerful platform with fairly easy and cost effective maintenance vectors. That Germany now receives Boxers produced in Australia just adds to this versatility. I don't know if it is better of the two, but it is a very good choice for sure and I am glad that we over here in the German army will be equipped with the Boxer platform as well.
My father was conscripted into the British army post WW2. He saw active service as a 19 year old in 1948 in the Middle East and was a gunner in a tank brigade. I am proud of my father and I like your content.
Modern war will not be gentle with these AFVs. A $35,000 lancet will destroy a $10 milliom (UK) / $25 million (Aus) Boxer from 40km away. So could a $500 drone with a shape charge ducttaped to it.
@@shanerooney7288 the same argument was made for ATGMs for decades now. Unless you are Russian you usually try to avoid getting hit in the first place by not sending out your tank on its own but maybe with an air defense vehicle, jammer or something similar.
@@roadrunner6224 the two main differences are the range and the fact you don't need line of sight at time of fireing. NLAW = 800m Javelin = 2km MILAN = 2km Spike LR = 4km FPV drone = 10+km ZALA KYB = 30km ZALA Lancet = 40km a Boxer IFV will out range and have line of sight on the ATGM teams. But not on the drone teams.
@@shanerooney7288 but they are slower, less well protected against direct attacks and ew. Drones are a problem for which there already dozens of solutions. APS, RWS, dedicated SPAA, counter drones, Manpads, AMM, EW, targeting the operators. I'm not saying drones arent a threat, but they are a threat that will be dealt with.
@roadrunner6224 You can have 100 different ways to shoot a drone out of the air, but it makes no difference if they are unreliable. Example 1: (lack of opportunity) "Target the operators." You just need to find them and hit them before they hit you. It's definitely something I'd do when given the chance. But it's not something I'd rely on for Anti-drone defence. Example 2: (funding limits) Let's say Australia gets some SPAA, something similar to the Flakpanzer Gepard or 2K22 Tunguska. That's millions of dollars spent per vehicle. Also, It would only work when the SPAA was travelling with the Boxers. I just dont see Australia buying 50+ SPAA to drive around with their 200+ Boxers. Example 3: (working around the problem) Take Ukranian Kamikaze drone boats for example. There is evidence that they now have limited AI guiding them. You can't jam the signal if it doesn't rely on transmissions. Alternatively, have AI targeting only kick in when the signal is lost (usually on terminal phase of attack) And let's not forget the cost difference. If the drone costs $30,000 (Lancet), vs the vehicle costing $25,000,000 (Aus Boxer)... they can shoot hundreds of drones per vehicle and still come out ahead. That's why the days of $30 million dollar IFVs are over.
When it comes to the boxer and Redback working together, it must be a nightmare. Even though they both have the same caliber gun, they both use different ammunition. It boggles the mind
The Unveiling of the Boxer CRV was 12/12/2002 and the Announcement of the. first 25 vehicles was in October 2022! That’s 2 years ago! Thanks for the Update Mate!
Transported are numbers of these beasts through the Fraser Coast to Gympie from Brisbane. You don't realize how large these things are until you stand beside them; they're taller than Abrams and a tad bit shorter in length.
Wow Mel, thanks for your insights. Being an ex RAAFie your knowledge is great and you convey it well. I was unaware of the Boxer series but it sounds like the various military manufacturers are putting a lot into Australia. I was involved in a few projects and know that testing of these “new” systems can get very intricate. I subscribed and liked and am looking forward to more offerings from you. Keep up the great work.
As someone who has done time in workshops within the 'system', one of the biggest issues is keeping up with the parts. From 1st hand experience out on exercise. Watching wheeled vehicles like this were being driven like they were tracked vehicles through sharp remnants of shrubs. Lots of axles being chained up for the drive back as they ran out of tyres. 38 tonnnes-hell the Leopard tanks were only around 40, and they are a tracked vehicle with seven 'road wheels.'
As a former M113A1 Recon Troop Leader, I'll just say that I wish we had had these Boxers back in my day. That Mauser MK30-2/ABM dual-feed stabilised cannon is giving me a Battlefat just thinking about it. Anyway I think that the Boxer was the best choice for Australia, but I would have preferred the MK 1 Tracked version.
Whilst 25m per vehicle seems too expensive, the fact it has come with the infrastructure and tech transfer to enable domestic construction seems to make this worthwhile. Hopefully over in NZ we can get a budget together to order some off you!
These are Truly Remarkable all Terrain Vehicles, A long time coming for the Army. Some great variants & I really like the Interchangeable Modules. Nice Video Sir ... Really Well Explained ... Respectfully ...
Awesome that we are exporting to Germany. Glad to see Australia leading the way in many respects as far as incorporating new technologies successfully into our military lineups. Wedgetail, Boxer & Redback to name a few. Much better than the Rovers & M113s of my day.
:D Greets from Germany Rheinmetall is our company and we need hundreads of vehicels in a short time so we let produce in other states as well. Today the media reportet that we order 103 new Leoprad 2 a8 MBT´s in total 120new ones.. Last week a order for 150 new Boxer with a diffrent turret the same as on the Puma and 2 frigattes in total 6 new :D Today also a contract for artillerry shells for 8.1 billion for rheinmetall from our governent. Long Range Ballistics from Israel Arrow 3. F35 Jets from USA. Then we need like 1000+ Troop carrier in the near future, looks like they choose a Patria we will see... And much more coming :D
@@VillaMasterSF The Australians choosed the Boxer for there troops and Rheinmetall produces there together with australian companys too. So the german governant decided to produce a bach over there for the german troops and import them
@VillaMasterSF Mate.. there is more than one Boxer factory around the world. The German one is occupied with work, so the Australian facility produces all of our "Schwere Waffenträger" for our medium heavy forces. Plus since they are practically the same as the Australian variant, it makes even more sense. The whole production force is already hired and trained, the parts are already known and on site. This info is just 1 Google search away, btw.
The 30mm gun is the same as the one on the German Puma IFV and the Germans are currently working on a software upgrade that will enable the Puma to engage drones just like a Skyranger AA gun. The only difference is that the Puma isn't equipped with radar, but it can use its multi spectrum optics to scan for and track small aerial targets. So once that software exists, it should be possible to upload it to any platform that uses that 30mm gun, including the Boxer and turn it into a anti drone AA gun. It won't have all the abilities of the radar equipped Skyranger, but it will probably be good enough to defend itself and disembarked troops nearby.
@@TrangleC The radar isn't the only difference. The skyranger boxer has a revolver cannon that can fire 1200 rpm for the 30mm ammo. The normal belt fed 30mm is way slower with around 200 rpm. Also the maximum elevation is much higher which needs it's space in the skyranger.
@@FlashBFE Don't know about the version in the Australian Boxer, but the one in the Puma is not belt fed, but fed by a link-less twin feed ammo cassette. I'm also pretty sure Rheinmetal has been focusing on revolver guns for a long time, even before they bought Oerlikon. I doubt that they would cannibalize their own business by developing 2 different 30mm guns.
@@TrangleC Regardless of the cannon, the key will be the ammo and sensors. Airburst rounds linked to a sensor (radar/ladar/EO/IR whatever) that can effectively engage the small FPV drones up to helos. And then you need enough of this variant that they can provide mobile air defence to a battlegroup.
@@TrangleC The Puma/Boxer IFV and the Skyranger are indeed fielding two different 30 mm canons. One developed originally by Mauser and the other one by Oerlikon.
As a german i am so happy that Australia has chosen the Boxer. And now Australia is even producing Boxers for the german Bundeswehr (because germayn cant handle the demand). Win-Win for both Germany and Australia :D
We also need growth in Naval and Airforce and armored drones (which have been a headache in Israel conflicts and Ukraine war). The fact that we are building these are definitely a thumbs up.
Great narrative, thanks for putting this together. Touch wood some of the fit outs you mention have some sort of anti drone capability based on what we have seen recently.
Making something with modular components just makes sense, from war to domestic flood and fire recovery, for a country with vastly difference terrain. As others have said, finally a worthwhile military purchase that is future proof.
The modularity is AMAZING! One platform that can do a dozen things as needed w/o having to build 3,000 of them just b/c once they're built they can't be changed. Also, in 20 years when tech has advanced, the SAME basic "cab and chassis" can keep doing the job with newly re-designed modules dropped on its deck.
Agree with so many comments below from current and former members. This is a must in Australia. We have seen in the latest conflicts the ability to dominate / defend the front positions has come down to a quick response from these kinds of vehicles. These seem to be balanced well between firepower and protection. I would really like to see more defence units become mobile and these are the weapons to make it work
given how war has changed and the advent of drone swarms, you'll need a ECM jammer model in the lineup. Also capability to launch both recon and kamikaze loitering drones like the K51 MBT. They will need to be deployed with other armoured units to protect them.
Likely that the ASLAV's will remain in service for a number of years to come, especially with various reserve units. The numbers of CRV and IFV's procured are way less than the Army needed. A service life-extension program is already being talked about in Canberra. With the M113's being taken out of service completely, the need for an armed APC capability that the Bushmasters cannot meet is obvious. A cheap stop-gap solution is to retain the ASLAV's.
@@IC3XR The ASLAV’S like the older M113 are indeed outdated and are no longer fit for purpose on the modern battlefield, that said, they are still ok for low intensity battlefields against less technologically sophisticated adversaries or for policing work overseas, however keeping ageing equipment just for that only incentivise our government not to spend money on what we really need for our troops and has been the main problem in vehicle procurement for decades.
@@forgivemenot1 uhhh... you really didn't OP's comment, and it shows... That's literally what we're saying: keep the ASLAVs for the Army Reserves, and retire all M113s. (i.e: for low intensity conflicts)
@@forgivemenot1 then you’ve completely misunderstood my original reply. 👏🏼 I never said they should be kept for high-intensity conflict, and just because they can’t, doesn’t make them ‘outdated’; they still have a use.
Why build a new facility when you can use one already existing. Australia might be far away from Germany in geographic terms but large companies operate on a global scale these days and Australia is not a as insecure location like, lets say building stuff in China. In the end all countries involved will benefit from this. Especially when you consider that the Bundeswehr will get vehicles that underwent ample testing already. In my opinion this is the way to go. Will save us (Germany) quite a lot of money by buying stuff that is working out of the box.
Boxers have a good reputation and the ability to build the base vehicle and mate it to a variety of modules is a very flexible way to do things. I think it is a better choice than the Stryker family of vehicles we use here in the US.
@LaurenceCain as far as I've heard they are being made in Australia and are able to shoot a bird size drone at about 3 km. If those claims are true they would be a way cheaper anti drone weapon than the expensive patriot missiles being used in current conflicts. Also the slinger can be mounted to pretty much any vehicle so it's cheap and easy. Sounds like a winner to me🤷
Australia has been promised getting these vehicles for the last 6 years, when will the fleet actually be at unit level? Not only can we not recruit, we can’t get enough uniforms AMCU , let alone AFVs. The problem with the ADF today is, the over use of the APS and contractors, and the slow pace of defence industries in general. Battlefield? What battlefield, high range, shoal water bay, these things will never see dirt overseas manned by Australians, unless it’s via an export to the Ukrainians, with foreign crews.
The versatility of the vehicle platform is very similar to a smaller vehicle that was introduced to the UK army about five or six years ago. Theoretically, the modular form should make the vehicles more readily used if part of it becomes seriously damaged. Meaning less down-time for vehicles, especially when they're in active combat.
Totally support the defence industry setting up shop here. There should be much more of this sort of thing. The price the Navy is paying for the cannons on its new boats Armadales? I forget the name but the ships were defenceless before they ordered these cannons which were hundreds of millions for 5. 340 mill I think. For that we could set up a whole industry from scratch. Or almost. I hope we are going to see much more of this sort of thing in future.
Not to put down BAE Systems because they do make good quality military equipment, but I think the Rheinmetall Boxer variant was the right choice because of the extra armor on it for crew/troop protection and field testing the 1st batch is a great consideration and I hope your Defense Ministry will listen to the troops input and make any necessary changes to the 2nd batch before production starts on them. Love from the USA, been to Australia and love the Country and people even if you do talk in a funny way 😆❤💯
the price of war is so much more than it was for the first and even the second war. the price for freedom is priceless' we have a very big country and to protect it is costly, i love the name for the beasts.
Australia always had the construction abilities in all industries. So it’s great to see it’s become a reality in one field. Construction costs, power etc, are a thorn in Australians industries. But our technology is immense in planning and know how, just getting into production is the sore area But this is great news 🇦🇺🥂🥂🇦🇺
The limited numbers alone indicate that Australian will remain a small boutique sized force for the next decade at least. This government has reduced the previous government plan for three armoured brigades to just one! One brigade! . . . Not an armoured division . . One brigade! We were to get 430 red back armoured fighting vehicles to facilitate three brigades but that order was reduced to 130. No room for redundancy or attrition rates in actual combat. The Army is still supposed to increase by 10,000 by 2030 but people are leavening the service not joining. I wonder why.
Nice combat recon vehicles, unfortunately as we have seen, many armoured combat vehicles are vulnerable to drone attacks, if the conflict in Ukraine is anything to go by. These will need to be accompanied by some very effective anti drone countermeasures, whether that be drone killing lasers or something like the Anduril Industries interceptor drone, putting combat vehicles in the field these days risks losing them to some very cheap tech threats.
The UK is also building a Boxer plant and buying/building similar numbers. Armies just need an armoured taxi that can defend itself to transport at speed and over distance the specialised troops and weapons systems that modern warfare demands. The Boxer is the best in class at present. The module system gives it the flexibility to adapt over its lifespan. By all accounts its pretty cool. Ukraine is rewriting tactical doctrine anyhow. Best to invest in stuff that will always find a use.
A war is won by who can can Logistically supply the most and quickest turnaround to the front line , then maintain the damaged ones to return quickly to service. The Armament industry needs to ramp up considerably and be self reliant. I think I can sense the Planning Commanders want self reliance and self belief at the front line rather than relying on slower commanding from the rear. Having them as kit builds for separate roles helps the quick supply idea.
That thing wasn't tested at stradie a couple of weeks ago was it? I saw a boat taking something north from where I am. A couple of smoke plooms told me something was on. Bonfires are very easy to spot from here. Always good to finish an excercise in style
I'm an Australian/German, my mother's side of the family are full German born in Germany!! I think it good Australia and Germany are working together!!!
This is my favorite one but unfortunately it lost out to the Hanwa Red Back which I think is being built in Mr Marles constiuency down in Victoria so i have heard, hmm who is getting kick backs I wonder plus those Red backs cost more to build by the way.
I realise this is all about the Rheinmetall Boxer CRV but paired with the Redback IFV I think we made some good choices in the replacements for the ASLAV and M113AS4. I have friends over in the US army that bitch and moan about their aging M2 & M3 Bradley IFV/CFV, constant malfunctions and engine wear. They just revealed the newest M2A4E1 over there and the lads are super hyped to see how long until those new toys start pissing coolant down the motor pool drains too lol. edit: Guess it's just an in-between til the XM30 has a proper prototype out, but still.. it's kind of a 'ain't broke, doesn't need replacing just yet' for them I think.
650km range is not enough, need a long line of logistics such as rail to move them in to place, fuel depots and tankers for refueling, diesel processing plants etc etc. imo helicopters and aircraft would be a better choice for the massive distances to be protected by Australias overall very small military. video was very well made thanks
Yeah the Brits have put a larger order in for these as well The UK's Boxers will be made in a factory in Wales after the first lot come from Germany (250)
Although much smaller and obviously less capable, the German Weisel at under $1million each would give the ADF much more power on the ground and spread over a far wider area. Quantity has a quality all of its own, and in the era of fpv drones, a lot smaller target and a lot more of them can’t be a bad thing?
I would argue that this is a perfect example why we must maintain a manufacturing capability in this country. In a war, you really don't want to be reliant on other countries for ALL your bombs and tanks and guns and so forth. At the very least, you need to be able to produce basic munitions and consumables.
The Boxer and Red Back systems look to be much needed upgrades, but I'm only concern is that the they're replacing previous systems with lower quantities. If the war in Ukraine taught as anything is that quantity is a quality in itself. I'd love to see a video explaining future hyposonic cruise missiles the ADF is planning on procuring.
![NOSFERATU - Official Trailer [HD] - Only In Theaters December 25](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/nulvWqYUM8k/mqdefault.jpg)
Boxers were definitely the better choice imo. The fact Australia has set up industry to build these ourselves is what's truly fantastic.
Ukraine has shown mass matters. I’m not sure the purchase number will be enough. Particularly with consideration to the small number of IFV’s we’re purchasing innparalllel
:)
@@peterryan4851 you're ignoring a crucial fact I stated in my comment - Australia is dedicating industry to build them here.
If/when a large conflict happens, those numbers can now be quickly increased.
The real issue (and what I assume you're referring to) is the decision to reduce the number of Redback IFVs, being that we don't manufacture them here.
@@peterryan4851 Ukraine has a border with their enemy. Australian military doctrine is to stop them getting here, not to win battles in major cities after they get here.
Being able to produce weapons yourself and not rely on others is always an advantage. In addition, the Boxer gives you the opportunity to cover almost any application scenario with just one vehicle, thanks to its modular design.
So they have 211 multi-functional vehicles, whereas without the Boxer they would need 211 specific combat vehicles and hundreds of others to be able to cover the tasks of reconnaissance, medical, command posts or mountains and bridge-laying functions, these would also cost money again.
In addition, the Boxer is already tried and tested and is therefore less prone to errors than others. The quality also speaks for itself and you can rely on the boxer.
The Boxer is also my absolute favorite vehicle in the German Army.
You can't even imagine how big he is, in the videos and pictures he always looks smaller than in real life.
Look into your room and imagine a boxer coming through the wall that is 3m wide, 3.4m high and 8.3m long :o It's a monster.
G'day I'm an retired Grunt from 1 RAR and l think building up our Military manufacturing is a must as the world is changing at a fast past and if anything happens we need too stand on our own two feet and not rely on others, thank for the video, very informative, cheers.
Mate,if the US demands we stop all trading with our biggest partners just to screw us economically,the government will do it and then pay billions for the advice
Exactly. What happens when the US officially invade us. Need to ditch all US equipment and make our own. The time is coming.
100%. We are at the mercy of American navy protection of our supply chains.
@@jacobkuntflapp yea but you need to rely on NATO for defence. Doesn't mean you shouldn't invest in your own defence, but you will never be able to beat China in a 1v1. You need others. And that's okay
Who cares who you are.
Good for Australia. These are good-looking vehicles. Sending love from the USA 🇺🇸 🤝🇦🇺
German company Rheinmetall and Australia both won here. Even though Rheinmetall has massive productions facilities in Germany, they and the German gov decided to built their Rec vehicles in Austrialia due to competency and availability.
...why do you think Germany isnt compenent enough to produce their own product? I think it was all about availability.
@@NotUnymous First of all: that someone is competence doesn't mean someone else isn't. So no talks about lack of competency here. But honestly, the main resources and competency of productions for the lanced turret version is in Australia and the BW wanted that vehicle on shot notice. Rheinmetall produces and focus on the unmanned turret version (forgot the name) in Germany I understand. Btw BW ordered these as well as I understand.
@@ronaldotrumph8960 Germany mainly ordered Boxer's APC variant which are produced in Germany, but they also ordered a reconnaissance version which is almost identical to the Australian version. So the half finished Boxer is exported to Australia and then completed and then exported back to Germany.
The unmanned turret version was considered as it was the same version used in the Puma IFV. But that turret is built by Rheinmetall's competitor KNDS, I think Rheinmetall had an interest in the "Australian" version.
It is also likely that Germany buys the RCHF 155 artillery version of the Boxer. The only artillery system that can fire on the move.
the german government has very little to say in these matters, the reason rheinmetall is setting up production in australia is because the australian government paid extra for license production so they could have strategic independence, not because of competency and availability, australia would actually be a very bad place for rheinmetall to do any manufacturing
Not sure about competency. Our engineers couldnt manage to secure a box, widen seats, stop cartridges coming into the cabin and fix a fan on the Taipan helicopters.
Watching from the US. Greetings from across the pond my friends.
We arent your friends, no more support for illegal wars, get your mercenaries out of our country.
@@redherring6154 I'll get right on telling them some more. They didn't listen the last time. LOL!
@@redherring6154 calm down, princess.
@@jacobkuntflapp just facts buddy, don’t start shit you can’t finish .
You can not divide 5 billion dollars by 211 vehicles and come up with "each boxer will cost $25 million a piece" The cost associated with Land 400 Phase 2 include ...Training( and wages of the crew)Ammunition,,consumables such as tyres,oil.petrol,PPE. the list goes on and on of associated costs for the whole life cycle of the Boxer. The Australian Government always gives a life cycle cost of any projects associated with the ADF
.
People do that for the german boxer purchases too and act like it's a scam but without training, spare parts, etc. they are basically not worth anything because they won't be operational.
Yep, just more "scratch the surface" journalism that skims published sources and regurgitates.
In my country they budget armament acquisition almost the same (except training and wages I believe, since our army is conscription based), plus the price usually also includes one upgrade package during it‘s lifetime. That really puts the costs in a differen light.
Yep anyone interested should google whole life cost accounting. Thats how the ADF budgets our defence purchases. The all up price for these is less than 25 million. Also note that in the last few days theres been announcement of about 300 extra purchases of boxer by various countries. At the current rate the brisbane facility might get some extra orders of take some of the a waiting list of the german and british lines
I'm confused.
Wages of the crew throughout the program's lifetime or just the wages while they undergo training to use the machines?
Same for the other consumarables like tyres, oils, fuels etc. Are these for the life of the program?
Edit:
Looks like it has a high profile.
It was only today i was speaking with my friend on leave (Australian army ASLAV CRV Driver) he said they are trying not to break any of the existing ASLAV's untill the new Boxer's arrive because of the mechanical part scarcity and maintenance costs. so YES to defend the land we love so dearly the Boxer's are an non- negotiable
Defend from what? Kangaroo or natives 😂
lol. Nothing has changed then. When we first got the LAV we only had 1 trailer load of parts. Then we had to mod the vehicle for Australian conditions - tyres in particular were crap. Fun fact - with the aslav you could accelerate on hard lock in 8-wheel drive then flick it to 4 wheel and start doing donuts.
Uneducated comment@@hylimm
@@hylimm control of the population in then next epidemic BS coming ?Organized warfare appears to have started in the Neolithic Age and then ramped up during the Bronze Age. People have been killing each other since as long as there have been people its just got more technical how we mutilate each other
@@lzottrust Aussies to figure that out 😂
I recently saw a Boxer CRV on display at Gallipoli Barracks and it is huge. Like it is even larger than our M1A1 Abrams tanks. Really scary and impressive that thing is.
Shame this video didn’t show it next to the ASLAV, which is already a tall vehicle. In our flat largely desert country, it’s going to stand out like dogs ⚽️⚽️
@itsnotagsr a very big needle in a giant haystack, good luck actually finding the boxers in the millions of square kilometres of bush
@@h.c5750 who needs luck when you have drones
@@donovanteale6502drones that can easily be intercepted on launch*
@@h.c5750 you clearly dont know how good sensors are these days
I am not familiar with the Patria. The things I know about the Boxer tell me it is an incredible versatile and powerful platform with fairly easy and cost effective maintenance vectors. That Germany now receives Boxers produced in Australia just adds to this versatility. I don't know if it is better of the two, but it is a very good choice for sure and I am glad that we over here in the German army will be equipped with the Boxer platform as well.
One of the few times we made the right choice. Now we need to consider new variants like mortar, AA/C-AUS,
My father was conscripted into the British army post WW2.
He saw active service as a 19 year old in 1948 in the Middle East and was a gunner in a tank brigade.
I am proud of my father and I like your content.
Thanks Mark and appreciate your fathers contribution
The "command and conquer"-version comes with a very great musical theme
1700+ Boxers already ordered globally. UK another major user now. Germany to order even more, e.g. as self-propelled howitzer
Modern war will not be gentle with these AFVs.
A $35,000 lancet will destroy a $10 milliom (UK) / $25 million (Aus) Boxer from 40km away.
So could a $500 drone with a shape charge ducttaped to it.
@@shanerooney7288 the same argument was made for ATGMs for decades now.
Unless you are Russian you usually try to avoid getting hit in the first place by not sending out your tank on its own but maybe with an air defense vehicle, jammer or something similar.
@@roadrunner6224
the two main differences are the range and the fact you don't need line of sight at time of fireing.
NLAW = 800m
Javelin = 2km
MILAN = 2km
Spike LR = 4km
FPV drone = 10+km
ZALA KYB = 30km
ZALA Lancet = 40km
a Boxer IFV will out range and have line of sight on the ATGM teams. But not on the drone teams.
@@shanerooney7288 but they are slower, less well protected against direct attacks and ew.
Drones are a problem for which there already dozens of solutions. APS, RWS, dedicated SPAA, counter drones, Manpads, AMM, EW, targeting the operators.
I'm not saying drones arent a threat, but they are a threat that will be dealt with.
@roadrunner6224
You can have 100 different ways to shoot a drone out of the air, but it makes no difference if they are unreliable.
Example 1: (lack of opportunity)
"Target the operators." You just need to find them and hit them before they hit you. It's definitely something I'd do when given the chance. But it's not something I'd rely on for Anti-drone defence.
Example 2: (funding limits)
Let's say Australia gets some SPAA, something similar to the Flakpanzer Gepard or 2K22 Tunguska.
That's millions of dollars spent per vehicle. Also, It would only work when the SPAA was travelling with the Boxers. I just dont see Australia buying 50+ SPAA to drive around with their 200+ Boxers.
Example 3: (working around the problem)
Take Ukranian Kamikaze drone boats for example. There is evidence that they now have limited AI guiding them. You can't jam the signal if it doesn't rely on transmissions.
Alternatively, have AI targeting only kick in when the signal is lost (usually on terminal phase of attack)
And let's not forget the cost difference.
If the drone costs $30,000 (Lancet), vs the vehicle costing $25,000,000 (Aus Boxer)... they can shoot hundreds of drones per vehicle and still come out ahead.
That's why the days of $30 million dollar IFVs are over.
Boxer is a superb asset, and the new Brisbane factory is a significant contributor to Australian defense manufacturing capability.
Now we just need a better navy to actually stop any enemies from landing millions of troops and thousands upon thousands of tanks
Adelaide would be a better choice....but to fine
@@danieltynan5301 how would Adelaide be a better choice?
@@CASA-dy4vsit wouldn’t I don’t think would it? QLD is far better.
Thanks for another video on Aussie military hardware.
About bloody time! Aussie built for Aussie requirement's and Digger Proof!
Happy that these vehicles are made in Australia and I would love to have one.
Very excited to see content regarding the Redback IFV.
When it comes to the boxer and Redback working together, it must be a nightmare. Even though they both have the same caliber gun, they both use different ammunition.
It boggles the mind
You think they would have standised the gun......
The Unveiling of the Boxer CRV was 12/12/2002 and the Announcement of the. first 25 vehicles was in October 2022! That’s 2 years ago! Thanks for the Update Mate!
Transported are numbers of these beasts through the Fraser Coast to Gympie from Brisbane. You don't realize how large these things are until you stand beside them; they're taller than Abrams and a tad bit shorter in length.
Wow Mel, thanks for your insights. Being an ex RAAFie your knowledge is great and you convey it well. I was unaware of the Boxer series but it sounds like the various military manufacturers are putting a lot into Australia. I was involved in a few projects and know that testing of these “new” systems can get very intricate. I subscribed and liked and am looking forward to more offerings from you. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for the kind words @kahmusicaustralia ! Appreciate it.
As someone who has done time in workshops within the 'system', one of the biggest issues is keeping up with the parts. From 1st hand experience out on exercise. Watching wheeled vehicles like this were being driven like they were tracked vehicles through sharp remnants of shrubs. Lots of axles being chained up for the drive back as they ran out of tyres.
38 tonnnes-hell the Leopard tanks were only around 40, and they are a tracked vehicle with seven 'road wheels.'
Tbf leopards weigh a whole lot more now as well
So the claim about all conditons is bs. Wet season, boggy ground or our sticky mud will turn these into a laughing stock
As a former M113A1 Recon Troop Leader, I'll just say that I wish we had had these Boxers back in my day.
That Mauser MK30-2/ABM dual-feed stabilised cannon is giving me a Battlefat just thinking about it.
Anyway I think that the Boxer was the best choice for Australia, but I would have preferred the MK 1 Tracked version.
i volunteer to test this as my daily driver
Love that they're built down here.
Just be nice to have more.
NZer here. Looks like a great bit of kit, especially alongside the upcoming Redback vehicle too!
*Go you good things!*
Whilst 25m per vehicle seems too expensive, the fact it has come with the infrastructure and tech transfer to enable domestic construction seems to make this worthwhile. Hopefully over in NZ we can get a budget together to order some off you!
These are Truly Remarkable all Terrain Vehicles, A long time coming for the Army.
Some great variants & I really like the Interchangeable Modules.
Nice Video Sir ...
Really Well Explained ...
Respectfully ...
Very well put together & easy to understand thanks mate have subscribed
Glad to see the Aussies finally made up their mind. They definitely made the right decision.
Only took a bit longer to make the decision than …. the entirety of WW2
Awesome that we are exporting to Germany. Glad to see Australia leading the way in many respects as far as incorporating new technologies successfully into our military lineups. Wedgetail, Boxer & Redback to name a few. Much better than the Rovers & M113s of my day.
:D Greets from Germany Rheinmetall is our company and we need hundreads of vehicels in a short time so we let produce in other states as well. Today the media reportet that we order 103 new Leoprad 2 a8 MBT´s in total 120new ones.. Last week a order for 150 new Boxer with a diffrent turret the same as on the Puma and 2 frigattes in total 6 new :D Today also a contract for artillerry shells for 8.1 billion for rheinmetall from our governent. Long Range Ballistics from Israel Arrow 3. F35 Jets from USA. Then we need like 1000+ Troop carrier in the near future, looks like they choose a Patria we will see... And much more coming :D
wtf u talking about the Boxer is produced in germany, an is an joint venture of the british and german military complex.
@@VillaMasterSF The Australians choosed the Boxer for there troops and Rheinmetall produces there together with australian companys too. So the german governant decided to produce a bach over there for the german troops and import them
@@VillaMasterSF Boxer is produced in vareity of states, and OZ 8 by 8 seem to be top notch, so we order some.
@VillaMasterSF Mate.. there is more than one Boxer factory around the world.
The German one is occupied with work, so the Australian facility produces all of our "Schwere Waffenträger" for our medium heavy forces. Plus since they are practically the same as the Australian variant, it makes even more sense. The whole production force is already hired and trained, the parts are already known and on site.
This info is just 1 Google search away, btw.
Really great summary. Would love to see those facilities and that top class equipment one day
Interesting commentary and analysis, Mel.
Subscribed!
Need to get a few Boxers with the Skyranger turret to engage drones.
The 30mm gun is the same as the one on the German Puma IFV and the Germans are currently working on a software upgrade that will enable the Puma to engage drones just like a Skyranger AA gun. The only difference is that the Puma isn't equipped with radar, but it can use its multi spectrum optics to scan for and track small aerial targets.
So once that software exists, it should be possible to upload it to any platform that uses that 30mm gun, including the Boxer and turn it into a anti drone AA gun.
It won't have all the abilities of the radar equipped Skyranger, but it will probably be good enough to defend itself and disembarked troops nearby.
@@TrangleC The radar isn't the only difference. The skyranger boxer has a revolver cannon that can fire 1200 rpm for the 30mm ammo. The normal belt fed 30mm is way slower with around 200 rpm. Also the maximum elevation is much higher which needs it's space in the skyranger.
@@FlashBFE Don't know about the version in the Australian Boxer, but the one in the Puma is not belt fed, but fed by a link-less twin feed ammo cassette.
I'm also pretty sure Rheinmetal has been focusing on revolver guns for a long time, even before they bought Oerlikon. I doubt that they would cannibalize their own business by developing 2 different 30mm guns.
@@TrangleC Regardless of the cannon, the key will be the ammo and sensors. Airburst rounds linked to a sensor (radar/ladar/EO/IR whatever) that can effectively engage the small FPV drones up to helos.
And then you need enough of this variant that they can provide mobile air defence to a battlegroup.
@@TrangleC The Puma/Boxer IFV and the Skyranger are indeed fielding two different 30 mm canons. One developed originally by Mauser and the other one by Oerlikon.
Definitely a step in the right direction for Australia and its Regional Partners.
Thanks mate 🎉
As a german i am so happy that Australia has chosen the Boxer. And now Australia is even producing Boxers for the german Bundeswehr (because germayn cant handle the demand).
Win-Win for both Germany and Australia :D
We also need growth in Naval and Airforce and armored drones (which have been a headache in Israel conflicts and Ukraine war). The fact that we are building these are definitely a thumbs up.
Subscribed. Good informative, easy to follow video
Great narrative, thanks for putting this together. Touch wood some of the fit outs you mention have some sort of anti drone capability based on what we have seen recently.
Thats what the iron fist is supposed to help with
Fantastico avete perfino fabrica per costruilli
Making something with modular components just makes sense, from war to domestic flood and fire recovery, for a country with vastly difference terrain.
As others have said, finally a worthwhile military purchase that is future proof.
The modularity is AMAZING! One platform that can do a dozen things as needed w/o having to build 3,000 of them just b/c once they're built they can't be changed. Also, in 20 years when tech has advanced, the SAME basic "cab and chassis" can keep doing the job with newly re-designed modules dropped on its deck.
Excellent 👌 Worth every cent.
Yeah nah.
Agree with so many comments below from current and former members. This is a must in Australia. We have seen in the latest conflicts the ability to dominate / defend the front positions has come down to a quick response from these kinds of vehicles. These seem to be balanced well between firepower and protection. I would really like to see more defence units become mobile and these are the weapons to make it work
So, can we finally dispose our M113 fleet which have been in service longer than we had horses in our Cavalry?
Fantastic channel! Subbed
Very good policy best defence against terrisom very smart brilliant masters of engineering 😊😮❤😊😮❤
Seen these being taken North. One looked to have had a close encounter with a solid object as the “Thule” rack on the back was reshaped.
Inflatable tires are the Achilles heel, no pun intended!
given how war has changed and the advent of drone swarms, you'll need a ECM jammer model in the lineup. Also capability to launch both recon and kamikaze loitering drones like the K51 MBT. They will need to be deployed with other armoured units to protect them.
Likely that the ASLAV's will remain in service for a number of years to come, especially with various reserve units. The numbers of CRV and IFV's procured are way less than the Army needed. A service life-extension program is already being talked about in Canberra. With the M113's being taken out of service completely, the need for an armed APC capability that the Bushmasters cannot meet is obvious. A cheap stop-gap solution is to retain the ASLAV's.
They would be silly not to keep the ASLAVs, they are by no means outdated.
Well said.
@@IC3XR The ASLAV’S like the older M113 are indeed outdated and are no longer fit for purpose on the modern battlefield, that said, they are still ok for low intensity battlefields against less technologically sophisticated adversaries or for policing work overseas, however keeping ageing equipment just for that only incentivise our government not to spend money on what we really need for our troops and has been the main problem in vehicle procurement for decades.
@@forgivemenot1 uhhh... you really didn't OP's comment, and it shows...
That's literally what we're saying: keep the ASLAVs for the Army Reserves, and retire all M113s. (i.e: for low intensity conflicts)
@@IC3XRI was replying to ‘you’ specifically not the OP, if I was replying to the OP I would have @ them.
And in that context, I stand by what I said!
@@forgivemenot1 then you’ve completely misunderstood my original reply. 👏🏼
I never said they should be kept for high-intensity conflict, and just because they can’t, doesn’t make them ‘outdated’; they still have a use.
I think Germany ordert these Vehicles in Australia because lack of production capacity in Europe.
Why build a new facility when you can use one already existing. Australia might be far away from Germany in geographic terms but large companies operate on a global scale these days and Australia is not a as insecure location like, lets say building stuff in China. In the end all countries involved will benefit from this. Especially when you consider that the Bundeswehr will get vehicles that underwent ample testing already. In my opinion this is the way to go. Will save us (Germany) quite a lot of money by buying stuff that is working out of the box.
Great decision to build these two vehicles, definitely the right decision.
Boxers have a good reputation and the ability to build the base vehicle and mate it to a variety of modules is a very flexible way to do things. I think it is a better choice than the Stryker family of vehicles we use here in the US.
imagine a $1000 fpv drone melting a 25 million dollar boxer vehicle
That's what our slingers are for, go check em out. Pretty nuts
It didn’t take long to find the comment I was looking for.
@@shini44-44 nothng great about the slingers. All imported parts, nothing unique they are obselete already.
@LaurenceCain as far as I've heard they are being made in Australia and are able to shoot a bird size drone at about 3 km. If those claims are true they would be a way cheaper anti drone weapon than the expensive patriot missiles being used in current conflicts. Also the slinger can be mounted to pretty much any vehicle so it's cheap and easy. Sounds like a winner to me🤷
So you want the soldiers to walk?
Australia has been promised getting these vehicles for the last 6 years, when will the fleet actually be at unit level? Not only can we not recruit, we can’t get enough uniforms AMCU , let alone AFVs. The problem with the ADF today is, the over use of the APS and contractors, and the slow pace of defence industries in general. Battlefield? What battlefield, high range, shoal water bay, these things will never see dirt overseas manned by Australians, unless it’s via an export to the Ukrainians, with foreign crews.
They are built to fight wars in the days before drones ruled the front lines
Future conflict will be fought with aircraft (manned or unmanned) naval power and drones???
The versatility of the vehicle platform is very similar to a smaller vehicle that was introduced to the UK army about five or six years ago. Theoretically, the modular form should make the vehicles more readily used if part of it becomes seriously damaged. Meaning less down-time for vehicles, especially when they're in active combat.
Totally support the defence industry setting up shop here. There should be much more of this sort of thing. The price the Navy is paying for the cannons on its new boats Armadales? I forget the name but the ships were defenceless before they ordered these cannons which were hundreds of millions for 5. 340 mill I think. For that we could set up a whole industry from scratch. Or almost. I hope we are going to see much more of this sort of thing in future.
The Uk in the meantime decided up on the Ajax, backed out of Boxer and then backed in again🙄
The cannon is quite clever though which is nice.
Not to put down BAE Systems because they do make good quality military equipment, but I think the Rheinmetall Boxer variant was the right choice because of the extra armor on it for crew/troop protection and field testing the 1st batch is a great consideration and I hope your Defense Ministry will listen to the troops input and make any necessary changes to the 2nd batch before production starts on them.
Love from the USA, been to Australia and love the Country and people even if you do talk in a funny way 😆❤💯
the price of war is so much more than it was for the first and even the second war. the price for freedom is priceless' we have a very big country and to protect it is costly, i love the name for the beasts.
The craziest version is the rc h155...
Australia always had the construction abilities in all industries. So it’s great to see it’s become a reality in one field. Construction costs, power etc, are a thorn in Australians industries. But our technology is immense in planning and know how, just getting into production is the sore area
But this is great news
🇦🇺🥂🥂🇦🇺
I didn't hear him mention any defence system for drone attack. Isn't that mandatory now?
The limited numbers alone indicate that Australian will remain a small boutique sized force for the next decade at least.
This government has reduced the previous government plan for three armoured brigades to just one! One brigade! . . . Not an armoured division . . One brigade!
We were to get 430 red back armoured fighting vehicles to facilitate three brigades but that order was reduced to 130.
No room for redundancy or attrition rates in actual combat.
The Army is still supposed to increase by 10,000 by 2030 but people are leavening the service not joining.
I wonder why.
big mistake by the current Gov
AWSOME ✌️ 😊 GET SOME AUSSIE!!!! WOOHOOO!
The best thing about the Patria is their special mortar system. Seems like a good choice was made.
Sad to see the ASLAV go. Will now need to build that 1:35 Trumpeter kit!
Iv seen that redbank facility from the out side and it looks awesome
Nice combat recon vehicles, unfortunately as we have seen, many armoured combat vehicles are vulnerable to drone attacks, if the conflict in Ukraine is anything to go by. These will need to be accompanied by some very effective anti drone countermeasures, whether that be drone killing lasers or something like the Anduril Industries interceptor drone, putting combat vehicles in the field these days risks losing them to some very cheap tech threats.
The UK is also building a Boxer plant and buying/building similar numbers. Armies just need an armoured taxi that can defend itself to transport at speed and over distance the specialised troops and weapons systems that modern warfare demands. The Boxer is the best in class at present. The module system gives it the flexibility to adapt over its lifespan. By all accounts its pretty cool.
Ukraine is rewriting tactical doctrine anyhow. Best to invest in stuff that will always find a use.
Idk how you miss the opportunity every video to say “click subscribe downunda.” Every video 😂
A war is won by who can can Logistically supply the most and quickest turnaround to the front line , then maintain the damaged ones to return quickly to service. The Armament industry needs to ramp up considerably and be self reliant. I think I can sense the Planning Commanders want self reliance and self belief at the front line rather than relying on slower commanding from the rear. Having them as kit builds for separate roles helps the quick supply idea.
That thing wasn't tested at stradie a couple of weeks ago was it? I saw a boat taking something north from where I am. A couple of smoke plooms told me something was on. Bonfires are very easy to spot from here. Always good to finish an excercise in style
Greetz from good old Germany 🦅
I'm an Australian/German, my mother's side of the family are full German born in Germany!!
I think it good Australia and Germany are working together!!!
This is my favorite one but unfortunately it lost out to the Hanwa Red Back which I think is being built in Mr Marles constiuency down in Victoria so i have heard, hmm who is getting kick backs I wonder plus those Red backs cost more to build by the way.
Kinda think I would like to have seen 30 or so artillery pieces ,30 or so anti air pieces and 30 electronic warfare pieces
Is the Rheinmetall variant platform for Germany the new RCH 155 Self-Propelled Howitzer, that can fire on the move?
I realise this is all about the Rheinmetall Boxer CRV but paired with the Redback IFV I think we made some good choices in the replacements for the ASLAV and M113AS4. I have friends over in the US army that bitch and moan about their aging M2 & M3 Bradley IFV/CFV, constant malfunctions and engine wear. They just revealed the newest M2A4E1 over there and the lads are super hyped to see how long until those new toys start pissing coolant down the motor pool drains too lol.
edit: Guess it's just an in-between til the XM30 has a proper prototype out, but still.. it's kind of a 'ain't broke, doesn't need replacing just yet' for them I think.
And the funny part is the xm30 also has a rheinmetall entry so there may be a whole lot of German armored vehicles around the globe come 2030
650km range is not enough, need a long line of logistics such as rail to move them in to place, fuel depots and tankers for refueling, diesel processing plants etc etc. imo helicopters and aircraft would be a better choice for the massive distances to be protected by Australias overall very small military. video was very well made thanks
Yeah the Brits have put a larger order in for these as well The UK's Boxers will be made in a factory in Wales after the first lot come from Germany (250)
Im going out on a limb here and predicting the nickname for this will be Thunderbird 2
Although much smaller and obviously less capable, the German Weisel at under $1million each would give the ADF much more power on the ground and spread over a far wider area. Quantity has a quality all of its own, and in the era of fpv drones, a lot smaller target and a lot more of them can’t be a bad thing?
I would argue that this is a perfect example why we must maintain a manufacturing capability in this country. In a war, you really don't want to be reliant on other countries for ALL your bombs and tanks and guns and so forth. At the very least, you need to be able to produce basic munitions and consumables.
Why only 211 vehicles?
I saw the turret and immediately said " oh, it's a Puma with wheels"😅
The Boxer and Red Back systems look to be much needed upgrades, but I'm only concern is that the they're replacing previous systems with lower quantities. If the war in Ukraine taught as anything is that quantity is a quality in itself.
I'd love to see a video explaining future hyposonic cruise missiles the ADF is planning on procuring.
Yes
I saw these being transported on the Bruce Highway a couple of months back. I wondered what they were.
It's the infrastructure that wins. That is an awefully large and expensive vehicle.
What's happening with the old ASLAV's? Should give them to the reserves
Wow awesome indigenous Aussie weapons
Expensive grave markers in wars that have made big lumps of mobile metal redundent
What's the point of defending against the threat of an outside force when the Australia is destroying itself apart from the inside.
Certainly hope they can keep spare parts up to them when they get a bit of wear and time on them just saying
Let's hope the Elbit Iron Fist active defence system works properly against drones...
@WilhelmEley The Radio Frequency Sensor is certified for the RCT-30 turret , but I don't know if it's certified for the Lance turret yet.
@WilhelmEley you need up close sensors for the drones that only get discovered at too short distance for the AHEAD ammo to work
Be interesting to see how they perform compared to the Bushmaster under live fire conditions