Bisalloy Steels has introduced Rheinmetall as the successful bidder for the Australian Government’s $5.2 billion LAND 400 Phase 2 Armoured Vehicle programme.

The decision means that Australian-made BISALLOY® Armour steel will be used in the production of over 200 Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRVs) to be manufactured by Rheinmetall at their Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) in South-East Queensland.

Bisalloy Steels Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Greg Albert also welcomed the announcement and congratulated Rheinmetall on its successful bid: “The whole team at Bisalloy is proud to now be partnering with a globally credentialed company such as Rheinmetall to deliver vehicles that will be providing protection to Australian defence personnel.

“As the only Australian manufacturer of quenched and tempered high-performance steel plate, knowing our product will again be protecting Australian soldiers is a tremendous source of pride for our company and builds on our long history of supplying our specialist steel to critical defence applications.”

BISALLOY® Armour steel has become a leading product for defence applications in Australia and abroad and has been specified for hulls in Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC), Light Armoured Vehicles (LAV), Collins Class submarines and the Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicles in Australia, along with many APCs and LAVs worldwide.

Greg Albert said: “For 25 years, the Bisalloy story has been one of working in partnership with Australian steel producers, defence scientists and engineers, international organisations and manufacturers of military vessels and vehicles to produce what we believe are some of the best armour plate products in the world.”

Rheinmetall Defence Australia Managing Director Gary Stewart said his company’s successful bid was not only good for Rheinmetall, but also recognises the globally competitive capabilities of Australian material suppliers such as Bisalloy Steels. “From the outset, Rheinmetall was committed to choosing the best available partners to work with for our LAND 400 bid. Bisalloy have shown throughout the tender process that not only do they manufacture a world-class armour steel product but that they have the technical and manufacturing capability required for such a critical project.”

Bisalloy expects to commence supply of its high-performance BISALLOY Armour steel product to Rheinmetall in 2018 in preparation for the delivery of the first BOXER CRVs in 2020.