A joint venture bid to acquire the Defense Support Group of Britain's Ministry of Defense has been tendered by KBR and Rheinmetall Defense.

The Defense Support Group is described as a Ministry of Defense Trading Fund that provides military vehicle maintenance and repair services to the British armed forces.

"KBR is confident that its long track record of program delivery working with the MOD over the last 25 years, including experience in building and operating the existing DSG facility in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, will make for a very strong contender," said Andrew Pringle, KBR Infrastructure, Government and Power, Europe, Middle East and Africa business unit president. "We understand the army's requirement for quality services and enhancing capability against a back drop of pressure on defense budgets."

Rheinmetall, a Germany-based company, called its partnership with KBR for the acquisition "unique," and brings together a strong combination of logistics, business management experience and technical expertise.

Under KBR Rheinmetall ownership, DSG would become a center of excellence for defense engineering and remain a trusted partner, implementing the British Army's strategy for equipment support, it said.

"Rheinmetall is a key supplier to the British Army," said Dr. Deniz Akituerk, director of Rheinmetall Defence UK. "The combination of Rheinmetall's land systems engineering capability, KBR's unparalleled project management skills and the knowledge and dedication of the DSG workforce makes a compelling case for the acquisition of DSG."

Details on the acquisition bid submitted were not disclosed.