Four Bushmaster 4x4 PMV Arrive in Japan

18 Mei 2018

Bushmaster 4x4 Protected Mobility Vehicle (photo : DefenceConnect)

Bendigo-Built Army Vehicles Arrive in Japan

The latest tranche of Australian-built Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles has arrived in Japan this week.

The four vehicles delivered this week take the total of exported Bushmaster vehicles to Japan to eight.

Thales Australia said the delivery of the vehicles is a milestone for defence exports in Australia.

"Over the past 10 years, Thales Australia has generated more than $1.6 billion worth of exports. Delivering economic benefits not only for Thales, but along our supply chain," a spokesperson for Thales Australia told Defence Connect.

"The Bushmaster is operated by eight defence forces across the world, including Australia, the Netherlands, UK, Japan, Jamaica, Indonesia, Fiji and New Zealand."

The second shipment of vehicles to Japan comes after Prime Minister Turnbull showcased Australian-made Bushmasters to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in January.

Thales Australia built and supplied four Bushmaster vehicles to Japan in 2014 at a cost of around $3.6 million. The combination of the eight vehicles represents Australia's biggest defence export deal to Japan. Over 1,100 Bushmasters have been manufactured to date in Bendigo.

The Bushmaster vehicles have been in operation since 1997 for the Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Netherlands Army, British Army and the Jamaica Defence Force.

The vehicles are lightly armoured and provide protected mobility transport for infantry dismounting from the vehicle before going into action.

(Defence Connect)