Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence
Materiel Jason Clare today announced that the Government has allocated just
over $38 million to further develop and test the next generation Hawkei Light
Protected Mobility Vehicle.
The Hawkei is a mobile, 7-tonne fighting vehicle that offers
a high level of protection for the soldiers inside it.
In December 2011 the Government announced that Thales
Australia’s Hawkei had been selected as the preferred vehicle for the
development and testing under Stage 2 of the Manufactured and Supported in
Australia (MSA) option under LAND 121 Phase 4.
ThalesAustraliais currently manufacturing Bushmaster
Protected Mobility Vehicles at its factory inBendigo. This manufacturing capability, and the skills
of the workforce, is an important national security capability which will be
required for the production of the Hawkei.
Defence has now reached an agreement with ThalesAustraliato
develop six prototype Hawkei vehicles for further testing. The first of these
will be delivered later this year.
Throughout 2013, the Hawkei prototypes will undergo a range
of testing and evaluation including user assessments, capability and
reliability testing to evaluate the ability of the vehicle to deliver the
capability required by Australian troops.
ThalesAustraliawill be required to meet technical
performance, cost and schedule commitments in the development of the Hawkei
vehicle. Progress in the development of the Hawkei will be assessed against a
series of milestones that will determine the maturing design of the vehicle.
If Thales is successful in developing a suitable vehicle at
an affordable cost in Stage 2, the Government will consider the merits of
buying the Hawkei vehicles to meet Army’s Protected Mobility Vehicle (Light)
requirement of LAND 121 Phase
Final Government approval of the project is expected to be
able to be considered by 2015.
On current plans, manufacture of Bushmasters atBendigois
expected to be completed before the end of 2013.
In order to retain critical skills inBendigowhile the design
of the Hawkei is finalised and proven, the Government has agreed to explore the
purchase of additional Bushmaster vehicles.
(Aus DoD)
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