Sydney, Australia, Mar 21 (EFE).- Australia has signed the biggest defense export contract in its history in a deal that will provide Germany dozens of armored vehicles for use by its army, its defense ministry announced Thursday.

“The [Anthony] Albanese Government has entered the single largest defense export agreement in our nation’s history, to supply Australian-made armored vehicles to Germany,” the ministry announced in a statement.

Canberra will sell Berlin more than 100 Boxer Heavy Weapon Carrier vehicles to be built by Rheinmetall in Queensland in a contract worth more than AU$1 billion ($663 million).

“The build and export of Boxer Heavy Weapon Carrier vehicles to the German Army highlights a strengthening of the relationship between our two countries,” Defense Minister Richard Marles said in the statement.

*Anthony Albanese and Richard Marles at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, 11 May 2021. EFE-EPA FILE/MICK TSIKAS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT*

Prime Minster Albanese said the “agreement will boost Australia’s sovereign defense industry, secure local jobs and contribute to Australia’s economic growth.”

*A ‘Boxer’ armoured fighting vehicle at Tollense barracks in Neubrandenburg, Germany, 27 May 2014. EPA-EFE FILE/BERND WUESTNECK*

“This deal secures well-paid jobs in Queensland and across the country,” he added in the same statement.

The agreement, which has already been approved by Germany’s parliament, follows Albanese witnessing the signing of the agreement in principle between the countries during an official visit to Berlin in July last year. EFE

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