Wescom Group is pleased to announce that Frances Hunt has been promoted to the role of Head of Defence Marketing at Wescom Group.

Frances has been Group Marketing Manager at Wescom for the last three years, having previously filled the Sales Manager role.

As Head of Defence Marketing, Frances is responsible for determining how WescomGroup promotes and positions its defence brands globally. She explains: “My focus is on building awareness, delivering strong campaigns, and ensuring our message resonates with the right audiences, whether through exhibitions, digital platforms, or close collaboration with our sales teams.”

A key part of the role currently involves Frances working closely with integrating newly-acquired BCB International into the Wescom Group. “This is a real pleasure,” she explains.  “I previously worked at BCB International Ltd as the EU Business Development Manager from 2012 to 2014, and many of my former colleagues are still there. It’s been great to reconnect with them now that BCB is part of WescomGroup.”

“Frances’ promotion is well-deserved and she has all the skills and capabilities to handle this wide-reaching and important role in the defence sector,” says Wescom Group Marketing Director Sean McCrystal.  “Her extensive experience through Wescom and previously at BCB International is invaluable and she is well-known, respected and has all the right contacts to maximise Wescom Group marketing activity in the defence marketplace.”

DARWIN, AUSTRALIA: Rheinmetall, the largest supplier of defence vehicles and a prime contractor to the Australian Defence Force, has expanded its maintenance capability in the Northern Territory and Queensland.

Joern Buelter, Rheinmetall Defence Australia General Manager Logistic Vehicles, said the organisation has provided Medium Heavy Capability (MHC) Introduction and Maintenance training in association with partner RGM Maintenance.

“Rheinmetall Defence Australia’s training program ensures that RGM’s certification levels are the same as those performed by Australian Army personnel at Robertson Barracks in the Northern Territory on Rheinmetall MAN vehicles across the HX Truck fleet.

“The partnership reflects the strong commitment to regional maintenance capability development as outlined in the recent Defence Strategy Review (DSR) to force posture in the north of Australia.

“The growing fleet in Northern Territory and Northern Queensland means that Rheinmetall has delivered OEM HX Logistic Vehicle maintenance training to RGM Maintenance personnel from Darwin, Townsville and Rockhampton, strengthening sustainment capability across the north,” Mr Buelter said.

Mr Buelter said that RGM first joined with Rheinmetall in 2022 to bring ongoing secure jobs, training and sovereign industrial capability to regional Australia.

“RGM is the only trade repair organisation Rheinmetall has provided this certification to and is the in-region OEM repairer of choice.

“This training reinforces the enduring partnership between Rheinmetall and RGM Maintenance to successfully sustain the HX vehicles in-region.” 

“Responding to the evolving needs of the Australian Defence Force is an ongoing commitment for Rheinmetall. We have established maintenance support in Queensland (Townsville and Rockhampton), Northern Territory and in Western Australia.

“Our head office maintenance bases in Ipswich at our Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence ensures the needs of Australia and its allies are well served,” Mr Buelter added.

In February, Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Australia celebrated the achievement of LAND 121 3B/5B program Final Acceptance, signifying the successful delivery on time and on budget of more than 3000 HX Trucks and 3000 modules. The HX truck is a workhorse of the Australian Army, providing unmatched capability for Australia’s Defence Force.   

The six cylinder, in-line diesel engine vehicle with a weight of more than 41,000 kilograms, operates in temperatures -32o to +49 o and can traverse water depths of more than 1.2 metres. Capabilities include; an Integrated and Automated Load Handling System, Crane, Container Carrier, Recovery, Tractor, Tanker, Tipper, System Carrier and Artillery System.

Thursday, 17 April 2025 – The next step has now been taken in the Franco-German armaments project Main Ground Combat System (MGCS). On the basis of the approval by the German Federal Cartel Office, KNDS Deutschland, KNDS France, Rheinmetall Landsysteme and Thales legally incorporated the ‘MGCS Project Company GmbH (MPC)’ on 10 April 2025 in Cologne. Dipl. Ing. Dipl. Wirt. Ing. and Colonel (G.S. German Armed Forces Reserve) Stefan Gramolla was appointed managing director.
The founding of the company marks a further significant step in the MGCS project. After the upcoming negotiation of a contract with the Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support of the Bundeswehr (BAAINBw), which is acting on behalf of the two nations through a Franco-German Combined Project Team (CPT), this project company will be responsible for implementing the next phase of the MGCS programme as the industrial prime contractor. In particular, it will consolidate the concept and the main technological pillars of the system.
Launched at the initiative of the French and German governments, the MGCS project aims to replace the Leopard 2 and Leclerc main battle tanks with a multi-platform ground combat system by 2040.

About KNDS:
KNDS is the result of the association of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Nexter, two of the leading European manufacturers of military land systems based in Germany and France.
KNDS forms a Group of more than 10,000 employees, with a 2024 turnover of 3.8 billion euro, an order backlog of around 23.5 billion euro and incoming orders of 11.2 billion euro. The range of its products includes main battle tanks, armored vehicles, artillery systems, weapons systems, ammunition, robotics, military bridges, customer services, battle management systems, training solutions, protection solutions and a wide range of equipment.
The formation of KNDS represents the beginning of consolidation in land defense systems industry in Europe. The strategic alliance between KMW (now KNDS Deutschland) and Nexter (now KNDS France) enhances both groups’ competitiveness and international positions, as well as their ability to meet the needs of their respective national army. In addition, it offers to its European and NATO customers the opportunity of increased standardization and interoperability for their defense equipment, with a dependable industrial base. 
KNDS headquarters are based in Amsterdam.