Minister for
Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today
announced the proposed acquisition of a further 214 Bushmaster Protected
Mobility Vehicles for the Australian Defence Force.
Bushmasters
have saved Australian lives in Afghanistan. The vehicle has proven to be very
effective, providing Australian troops with mobility and protection,
particularly against Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
Thales
Australia is currently manufacturing Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles at
its factory in Bendigo. This
manufacturing capability, and the skills of the workforce, is an important
national security capability.
In December
2011, the Government announced that in order to retain critical skills in
Bendigo it would explore the purchase of additional Bushmaster vehicles.
In March
2012, the Government announced it would spend more than $15.5 million to
manufacture long lead components of the next tranche of Bushmaster vehicles
from Thales Australia’s Bendigo factory.
This announcement is in addition to the purchase of 101 Bushmasters to support Australian Defence Force (ADF) operations in Afghanistan announced by the Government in May last year. It underlines the Australian Government’s commitment to the retention of critical skills in Australia’s defence industry.
The new
Bushmaster vehicles will progressively replace the oldest Bushmasters in the
present fleet and as well provide ongoing protected mobility for the command
and control of our artillery.
Production
of the additional Bushmaster vehicles will commence in October 2012. Production will be based on successive
tranches of 50 vehicles with orders dependent on Thales meeting key milestones
to develop Hawkei into a suitable vehicle for Project LAND 121 Phase 4.
This will
provide for continued expertise at the Bendigo plant until the start of
production of Thales Australia’s Hawkei vehicle under Project LAND 121 Phase 4.
LAND 121
Phase 4 is a $1.5 billion project to provide up to 1300 protected and
unprotected light vehicles for Army. Thales Australia’s Hawkei has 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.
Following
exhaustive testing and assessment of the MSA participants, Defence recommended
the Hawkei vehicle as the most likely to meet the future capability and value
for money requirements of the LAND 121 Phase 4 MSA option.
The next
stage of Phase 4 will include funding for further development and testing
including the manufacture of prototype vehicles.
Subject to
successful testing of the vehicles, final Government approval of the LAND 121
Phase 4 project is expected in 2015.
Production work could potentially commence in Australia as early as
2016.
In addition
to ongoing development of the Hawkei, the Government and Defence continue to
monitor progress of the United States’ Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV)
Program, which is another possible option for LAND 121 Phase 4. Australia has previously committed $43
million towards the Technology Development phase of the JLTV program.
The JLTV
program is currently progressing towards the Engineering and Manufacturing
Development Phase. Contract award and
the formal commencement of the Engineering and Manufacturing Development Phase
is expected in mid 2012.
While the
Government and Defence continue to monitor progress in the JLTV program, no
further contribution or commitment has been made by Australia to enter the next
phase of the JLTV Program.
(Aus DoD)
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