Nearly three years after the close of tenders to provide what was understood to be a Military Off The Shelf (MOTS) 40mm automatic grenade launcher, no preferred tenderer has been named and it’s not clear when this capability will enter service.

With the lightweight towed howitzer component of the Land 17 Artillery Replacement project ‘in the bag’ in the form of 35 M777A2s, and the possibility that the other element of the Army’s future indirect fire system, the self propelled artillery system, has been shelved for a while, we can now turn our attention to the means for their tactical control used by the forward observer (FO).

Thales Canada has signed an exclusive teaming agreement with DEW Engineering and Development ULC on the assembly of the Australian-designed Bushmaster for the Canadian Armed Forces’ 600-strong Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (TAPV) program.

Thales Canada and DEW Engineering and Development will assemble the Bushmaster for the Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle Program in Canada.

Vehicles with more armour will be added to the technology development phase of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program before the end of the year.

The Government has given second pass approval for the upgrade of the Australian Light Armoured Vehicle under Project Land 112 Phase 4.

Thales Australia (Hawkei), Force Protection Europe (Ocelot) and General Dynamics Land Systems Australia (Eagle) will now produce prototypes.

The competitors are BAE/Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin/Raytheon/MTU Detroit Diesel, and SAIC/Boeing/KMW/Rheinmetall.

Brisbane company Haulmark Trailers (Australia) Pty Ltd has signed a $70 million contract under Project Land 121 Ph.3 - Overlander for the provision and support of 973 Lightweight and Light trailers.

Defence has dispatched a request for information regarding its requirement for vehicles intended to deliver the Army's future combat capability.

The family of Joint Light Tactical Vehicles will have the Category A general-purpose vehicle, not the heavier Category B infantry carrier, as its focus.

The BAE Systems, Navistar, ArvinMeritor team has delivered seven JLTV prototype vehicles and four companion trailers to the US Army and Marine Corps.

Israeli firm Elbit Systems Limited will provide the Battle Group And Below Command, Control And Communications System (BGC3) under Projects Land 75/Land 125 after signing a $349 million contract with the DMO.

German special machinery company ARTEC, a joint Rheinmetall-KMW company formed to produce the APC referred to as MRAV and now known as Boxer, was trialled in Australia during February and March.

Haulmark Trailers has signed a $70 million contract for the provision and support of 973 Lightweight and Light trailers to the ADF under Land 121.

The US and Australia are weighing up whether requirements for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle are similar enough to warrant continued cooperation.