RBSL
UK-based defence engineering joint venture between BAE Systems and Rheinmetall, designing, manufacturing and supporting military vehicles including the Challenger 3 main battle tank and Boxer armoured vehicle, and actively using additive manufacturing for production parts and in-service support.
- CEO / Founder
- Rebecca Richards
- Team Size
- 501-1000
- Stage
- Active
- Key Investors
- BAE Systems (45% ownership); Rheinmetall AG (55% ownership)
Technology & Products
Key Products
Challenger 3 Main Battle Tank; Boxer armoured personnel carrier; Bulldog Armoured Personnel Carrier; Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle; Terrier, Titan and Trojan Armoured Engineer Vehicles; CRARRV; CVR(T) reconnaissance vehicles; Pinzgauer all-terrain utility vehicle; AS90 self-propelled artillery; Military bridging systems (Modular Bridging System, Titan); Advanced armour solutions; In-Service Support (ISS) programmes
Technological Advantage
Active user of additive manufacturing since 2016; uses DfAM for production parts on Challenger 3; leverages 3D printing for prototyping, trial fitment, and production parts; participant in UK MOD Project TAMPA for metal AM spare parts for armoured vehicles (Panther, Warrior, Challenger 2, Titan); operates Stratasys 3D printers; £20M internal investment in facilities; £70M+ Rheinmetall UK investment in production capabilities
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Sovereign UK capability for design, manufacture and through-life support of armoured military vehicles, combining Rheinmetall's vehicle technology with BAE Systems' UK combat vehicles heritage.
How They Differentiate
As a joint venture between BAE Systems and Rheinmetall, RBSL combines decades of British armoured vehicle heritage (Armstrong, Vickers, Alvis, BAE Systems Land UK) with Rheinmetall's advanced military vehicle technology portfolio, offering sovereign UK-based design, manufacture, assembly, integration, test, and lifetime support for military vehicles with over 700 employees and 300 engineers across four UK sites.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
UK Ministry of Defence (British Army); international military customers
Industry Verticals
Defence; Military vehicle manufacturing; Armoured fighting vehicles
Competitors
KNDS UK (WFEL); Babcock DSG; NP Aerospace
Growth & Milestones
Major Milestones
July 2019: RBSL joint venture launched; June 2019: CMA regulatory approval; November 2020: £860M Boxer production subcontract awarded; March 2021: Challenger 3 (C2 LEP) contract won (€750M); May 2020: Mission Master UGV training/maintenance contract; October 2020: £16M Fuchs CBRN upgrade contract; 2024: First Challenger 3 crewed live firing trials; 2024: 100th Boxer vehicle delivered; 2025: Challenger 3 initial mobility trials completed
Notable Customers
UK Ministry of Defence (British Army); ARTEC GmbH; Rheinmetall Canada (Mission Master UGV programme)