The Prime Minister will shortly confirm that Victoria has lost a $5 billion contract to build a fleet of super tanks for the defence force.

Malcolm Turnbull is expected to confirm the announcement this morning.

The deal would have created thousands of Victorian jobs and would have been based at the old Holden site at Fishermans Bend.

But, despite state government support including a massive advertising blitz, Queensland has won the contract.

Mr Turnbull is expected to officially announce the successful bidder is Rheinmetall, a German company that will base itself in Australia.

It will build 211 Boxer CRV tanks at Ipswich, with a future $15 billion deal also on the cards.

Victoria had hoped the project would have been a saviour to thousands of highly skilled unemployed car workers across Melbourne.

Image: defencejobs.gov.au