The Department of Defence is seeking input from Australian industry on the proposed tender timeline for LAND 400 Phase 3 – one of the Army’s largest purchases involving the acquisition of mounted close combat vehicle capability.
In a joint statement today, Minister for Defence Marise Payne and Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne called on the industry to review and comment on the draft timeline for the project, noting that it would lead to a smoother and better informed tender process reducing the cost of tendering to industry.
The LAND 400 Phase 3 is meant to deliver a fleet of up to 450 modern Infantry Fighting Vehicles to replace the Army’s M113 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs). The project will also see the Army acquire up to 17 Manoeuvre Support Vehicles.
Over its four phases, the LAND 400 project will see the Army acquiring a total of 675 new military vehicles over the next 15 years. The Land 400 Phase 2 project was awarded to the German-owned Rheinmetall in March.
The company is also a string contender for the Phase 3 project, having recently unveiled its Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicle, which the company said would be its chosen offering for Australia’s LAND 400 Phase 3 project.
Minister Pyne said the Phase 3 will keep in line with the previous phases of the project in involving the local industry and workforce.
“Just as with the Phase 2 Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles, Australian industry involvement and Australian workers will be critically important to this project,” Minister Pyne said.
“This project is another exciting opportunity for Australian industry to deliver leading edge technology in support of the Army. These will provide new levels of protection, firepower, mobility and enhanced communications. The new vehicles are expected to enter into service by the mid-2020s,” he said.
The Government provided First Pass approval for LAND 400 Phase 3 on 13 March 2018 to acquire the Infantry Fighting Vehicle and Manoeuvre Support Vehicle capabilities.
The opportunity to review and comment on the timeline will remain available until Monday 9 July 2018.