South Australia stands ready to build and support Australia’s next generation Armoured Fighting Vehicles.

The Minister for Defence Industries Martin Hamilton-Smith welcomed the Federal Government’s Request for Tender for initial vehicles to be acquired under Defence Project Land 400.

“It is pleasing that the Request for Tender for Land 400 Phase 2 is now open. I welcome the assurance from Defence Minister Kevin Andrews that Australian industry will have the opportunity to participate in the acquisition and support of Land 400,” Mr Hamilton-Smith said.

“Indeed, the Minister for Industry and Science Ian Macfarlane has made it clear that bidders are expected to maximise Australian industry content.

“Land 400 could secure 30 years of advanced manufacturing and sustainment work for South Australians. The acquisition phase alone is valued at more than $10 billion.

“This tender provides clear opportunity for bidders to include a manufactured and supported in Australia option.

“As the nation’s leading armoured vehicle manufacturing and sustainment hub, South Australia is well placed to play a major role in Land 400.

“Having built more armoured fighting vehicles than any other state in Australia, we have the track record, skills and supply chain, and can confidently deliver Land 400.

“With key Defence facilities across the state, including Horseshoe Barracks – a major Army base for the Land 400 vehicles, DSTO, and major test and training ranges at Cultana, Woomera and Port Wakefield, South Australia is the logical home for Land 400.

“We are engaged with potential bidders from around the world, promoting South Australia’s credentials and exploring how best we can support their bids.

The Land 400 program aims to enhance Army’s mounted close combat capability to operate in a broad range of conflicts. The vehicles will be heavily armoured, with high cross country mobility and a high level of lethality.

They are highly complex vehicles, each taking months to build and costing up to $10 million.

The project includes three phases totalling approximately 700 vehicles.

The Phase 2 tender seeks 225 Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles to replace the existing fleet of Australian Light Armoured Vehicles, manufactured and supported in South Australia (General Dynamics Land Systems – Australia).