{"id":26596,"date":"2019-07-01T20:21:19","date_gmt":"2019-07-01T20:21:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2019\/07\/01\/rheinmetall-bae-consummate-armored-vehicles-joint-venture\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:19:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:19:08","slug":"rheinmetall-bae-consummate-armored-vehicles-joint-venture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/europe\/2019\/07\/01\/rheinmetall-bae-consummate-armored-vehicles-joint-venture\/","title":{"rendered":"Rheinmetall, BAE consummate armored-vehicles joint venture"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

LONDON and COLOGNE, Germany \u2013 Germany\u2019s Rheinmetall and Britain\u2019s BAE Systems on Monday launched their U.K.-based military vehicles joint venture, after British authorities approved the deal in mid-June, the companies announced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new outfit is named RBSL, short for Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land, and it\u2019s based in Telford, West Midlands. Peter Hardisty, formerly of Rheinmetall UK, is the company\u2019s managing director.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The joint venture sets out to \u201cplay a major role\u201d in manufacturing the Boxer multirole fighting vehicle for the British Mechanised Infantry Vehicle program, according to a Rheinmetall statement. Official also have an eye on \u201cother strategic combat vehicle programs\u201d in addition to maintenance contracts for the British Army\u2019s bridging- and armored-vehicle fleets, according to the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis announcement is a clear vote of confidence in the UK\u2019s defence industry as a world-leader in designing, supplying and supporting military vehicles,\u201d Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt was quoted as saying in the statement. \u201cThis exciting venture clearly demonstrates how Defence sits at the heart of the prosperity agenda. Its benefits will be felt in the West Midlands and across the UK defence supply chain, creating jobs, boosting exports and guaranteeing our technical skills base into the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some might think it was anything but.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s because the news also means Britain has lost its only big-name, armored-vehicle company in a joint venture where BAE is the junior partner. As a result, the country no longer has a domestically controlled mainstream vehicle supplier \u2014 although some would argue BAE forfeited that role a while ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The British company retains significant armored-vehicle design and build activities in the United States and Sweden.<\/p>\n\n\n\t