FULDA, GERMANY, 20 April 2026
Mehler Systems, a global leader in ballistic protection and tactical gear solutions, has signed a share sale and purchase agreement to acquire a major stake in Craig International Ballistics (CIB). The acquisition is still pending approval under the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act of Australia.
Following the transaction, Craig International Ballistics will become part of the Mehler Systems Group – joining the group as a trusted partner. CIB will work closely with Mehler Protection’s body and platform armour divisions while continuing to operate under its established brand and local leadership. Headquartered in Queensland, the Australian company is a leading manufacturer of personal protective equipment and ballistic protection solutions for land, air and maritime platforms.
The investment strengthens Mehler Systems’ commercial footprint and customer proximity in the Asia-Pacific region, enabling Mehler Systems to address local requirements and service needs even more effectively. At the same time, it expands the group’s global reach and reinforces its position as a provider of high-quality, technologically advanced protection systems. The CIB site in Queensland will also serve as a key manufacturing, production and innovation hub within the group for customers in the Southern Hemisphere, supporting Mehler Systems’ international growth.
The investment strengthens Mehler Systems’ commercial footprint and customer proximity in the Asia-Pacific region, enabling us to address local requirements and service needs even more effectively. At the same time, it expands the group’s global reach and reinforces its position as a provider of high-quality, technologically advanced protection systems. The CIB site in Queensland will also serve as a key manufacturing, production and innovation hub within the group for customers in the Southern Hemisphere, supporting Mehler Systems’ international growth.
Commenting on the acquisition, Dr. Mario Amschlinger, CEO of Mehler Systems, said: “With Craig International Ballistics, we are welcoming an established Australian provider with a proven track record in supporting sovereign defence capabilities. By combining CIB’s strong presence and long-standing customer relationships in Australia with Mehler Systems’ portfolio, we will be able to serve customers in the Asia-Pacific region even more closely and respond to local requirements with enhanced speed, support and service. We gain direct access to existing programmes and relationships with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and other government clients, while also expanding our global reach. This investment is intended to geographically diversify our customer base, increase the resilience of our supply chains, and accelerate Mehler Systems’ development as a globally recognised provider of protection systems.”
In recent years, CIB has significantly expanded its manufacturing and technological capabilities, substantially increasing its capacity for complex ballistic protection solutions. Its modern production facilities and in-house testing and development capabilities enable the company to rapidly develop, trial and bring new protection concepts into series production. At the same time, APAC markets are seeing rising demand for modular, weight optimised protection systems for armed forces, government agencies and critical infrastructure.
James Craig, CEO of Craig International Ballistics, outlines the company’s approach: “With our broad range of ballistic protection plates for naval, aerospace and structural applications, we have contributed to Australia’s sovereign protection capabilities for many years, delivering solutions that integrate seamlessly into international programmes. The close integration of research, development, manufacturing and testing enables us to swiftly adopt new materials and production techniques. Together with Mehler Systems, we will be able to deliver high-performance, weight-optimised protection solutions for the APAC region and beyond even more quickly in future.”
This development culture fits seamlessly into Mehler Systems’ own technology roadmap. With the acquisition of a major stake in Craig International Ballistics, Mehler Systems is pursuing long term growth based on clearly defined security and industrial policy principles: regional anchoring, technical excellence and reliable partnerships with customers and public authorities.
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