Hundreds of Australian companies will still get the chance to pitch their capabilities to Defence and LAND 400 Phase 3 tenderers, as the Australian Industry Capability Roadshow moves online in response to COVID-19 social distancing regulations. Companies in Darwin, Perth, Launceston, Adelaide, Newcastle, Sydney and Canberra will take part in the virtual Roadshow from today. Local companies will have the opportunity to meet both Hanwha and Rheinmetall in a virtual meeting room. Each company will deliver a pitch on their capabilities, followed by questions from the shortlisted tenderers.
Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Melissa Price MP, said “It is important that we continue the momentum of the Roadshow, especially in the COVID-19 environment,” Minister Price said. “The virtual Roadshow will provide companies with a similar experience using digital methods to what was provided face to face. It is critical we continue to move forward with major acquisition projects like LAND 400 Phase 3, as these projects will help to fuel our post-COVID economic recovery.”
Rheinmetall and Hanwa have submitted the armoured fighting vehicles for the Australian Defence Force’s LAND 400 Phase 3 program, the Request for Tender (RfT) for which was released on 24 August 2018. Land 400 Phase 3 will replace the Australian Army’s M113AS4 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) with up to 450 modern infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and 17 manoeuvre support vehicles. In mid-September 2019, Rheinmetall’s Lynx KF41 Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) and Hanwha’s Redback K21 IFV were shortlisted for consideration for the Australian Army’s project Land 400 Phase 3 and will provide prototypes for a risk mitigation activity.
Down-selection of a preferred tenderer that will be presented to the government for consideration is expected during 2022 and following that an initial operating capability of the selected platform is expected to be reached in 2024–2025, while final operating capability is expected by 2030–2031. Rheinmetall has also responded to a request for information on the procurement of another 117 vehicles under the Land 400 programme, these configured as logistics, mortar carries with direct fire capabilities, mortar ammo providers, and protected amphibious platforms.
