Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare announced that Bushmaster vehicles in Afghanistan have been upgraded to provide soldiers with better protection against Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
The upgrade was completed in Afghanistan in August 2011.
Upgrades to the vehicles include the installation of new seating and flooring in the cabin to provide additional protection for commanders, drivers and the troops being transported.
Expert Defence and industry engineers from Thales and Stratos Seating developed the upgrades based on data from damaged Bushmaster vehicles hit by improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan and blast trials conducted in Australia.
In May the Government also announced that it would purchase an additional 101 Bushmasters to support current and future Australian operations.