Wales-based firm MilDef has secured a contract from RBSL and Rheinmetall to delivery key components for the new armoured fighting vehicles for the British Army.
Under the £20m contract, MilDef will deliver electronic components such as Crewstation PCs, servers and ethernet switches for the new Boxer fleet.
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The contract works will create and sustain around a dozen jobs, as well as support further development of MilDef’s manufacturing facilities.
MilDef chief sales officer Duncan Skinner said: “We are delighted to supply high-performance products together with RBSL into one of the UK MoD’s strategic vehicle programmes. MilDef continues its expansion in the UK defence industry and this contract is an example of the exciting times ahead for the company.
“The UK decided to rejoin the Boxer programme in 2018 and since then has committed £2.8bn to deliver over 500 vehicles to the British Army. They will be made up of four variants: an Infantry Carrier; a Specialist Carrier; a Command Vehicle; and an Ambulance.”
The main contractors, RBSL and WFEL, plan to build most of the vehicles in Telford and Stockport. The first armoured vehicles are expected to enter service in 2023.
Wales Secretary of State Simon Hart said: “Thousands of jobs in Wales are supported by UK defence expenditure and this latest £20m investment shows our continued commitment to invest in Welsh suppliers – cementing Wales’ place as a defence industry hub.
“I welcome this investment which comes at a time when the UK’s armed forces are providing crucial support to the NHS, Ambulance Service and Covid-19 testing effort across Wales.”
