The defence prime has progressed through to the next stage of the tender process for the Army project, which aims to equip personnel with next-generation warfighting capability.
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Rheinmetall Defence Australia (RDA) is calling on local industry to support its bid for the LAND 125 Phase 4 project after being shortlisted by the Commonwealth government.
Defence is seeking an industry partner to provide prime vendor services for product acquisition, integration and support to help deliver an Integrated Soldier System (ISS) for the Australian Army.
The ISS is expected to embed all elements and subsystems used, worn or carried by soldiers in any operational context or environment for up to 72 hours without resupply.
RDA has invited industry stakeholders to register their interest via its RDA Supplier Portal.
Specifically, RDA is seeking support for the delivery of:
- soldier platform capabilities — protective systems, load carriage systems, power and data management, signature management, translation system;
- robotics and autonomous platform capabilities — load carriage, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, force protection; and
- enhancement capabilities — innovative and disruptive technologies, improvements and enhancements, health and performance monitoring, immersive simulation.
“I am impressed by the high degree of innovative technologies being developed by Australian small to medium enterprises,” Rheinmetall managing director Gary Stewart said.
“It is important for Rheinmetall to facilitate these companies playing their part in delivering what will be the Australian Army’s best possible future soldier system.
“Rheinmetall understands that it is critical to provide a system architecture that is fully interoperable and that can integrate third-party equipment.”
Stewart said Rheinmetall would leverage its Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence in Redbank, Queensland, to enable partners to develop, integrate and sustain the Australian Army’s next-generation soldier system for modern and future battlespaces.
Rheinmetall Defence Australia is the latest contractor to be shortlisted for the program, joining Babcock Australasia, Team Sabre (Safran Electronics & Defense Australasia, BAE Systems Australia, and Nova Systems Australia and New Zealand), and Elbit Systems of Australia.
The winner of the tender is set to commence delivery of ISS mission systems and products from late 2024.
[Related: Elbit Systems shortlisted for LAND 125]