Australian small business $15m Defence deal delivering jobs for Western Sydney

Australian company Thomas Global has secured a $15 million contract with Rheinmetall as part of a major deal to deliver a new generation of combat vehicles for Australia.

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Melissa Price MP, announced the signing at the Defence and Security Equipment (DSEI) International tradeshow in London.

Minister Price said the deal would generate 20 more jobs for Western Sydney and demonstrated how local businesses were benefiting from major Defence contracts.

The Coalition Government selected Rheinmetall for LAND 400 Phase 2 in March 2018 to deliver 211 Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles.  The project is worth $5.2 billion and will create up to 1450 jobs right across Australia.

Thomas Global was selected by Rheinmetall to deliver the CRV Immersive Tactical Trainer (ITT) system, a critical element of the overall Land 400 Phase 2 Mission System.

“I’ve tasked the major Defence players with ensuring they maximise local industry content in these large Defence contracts and I’m pleased to see they are delivering on their commitments,” Minister Price said.

“While Rheinmetall is building the Boxer CRV in South East Queensland, small businesses right across Australia are taking up opportunities in the supply chain – creating hundreds of local jobs and strengthening our defence industry.”  

Under the $15 million contract, Thomas Global will design and manufacture 13 containerised ITT sets and 6 classroom ITT sets. The ITT will assist operators in learning the operation of the Boxer CRV and its role in the Land Combat Vehicle System fleet.