The enhancements, which have a total project cost of $302.8 million, will up-armour the ASLAV fleet to provide greater protection to suit difficult and dangerous environments such as those in Afghanistan.
The enhancements will provide increased protection against a wider range of threats - including improvised explosive devices - by improving ballistic, fragmentation and blast protection.
The project will also see improvements to the vehicle's suspension, driveline and engine, ensuring the ASLAV remains a highly capable and versatile light armoured vehicle for the duration of its service with the ADF.
The project plans to deliver 113 upgraded vehicles, commencing by April 2012.
Defence is also investigating options for significantly expediting the schedule for the upgrade.
There will be a range of opportunities for Australian industry to be involved in the installation and support of the upgrade.
These include pre-modification and refurbishment work, suspension and drivetrain upgrades, installation of upgrade kits, and the redesign and manufacturing of mine blast belly plates.
More on ASLAV upgrade...
Armatec Survivability Corporation and General Dynamics Land Systems Australia (GDLSA) have been selected to provide survivability enhancements and refurbishment of 113 ASLAVs.
The enhanced survivability kits comprise advanced composite armour technology developed and produced by Armatec Survivability in Canada.
The pre-modification, refurbishment, automotive upgrades, and installation of the enhanced survivability kits will be performed by GDLSA in Adelaide.
"These enhancements will result in our ASLAV fleet being up-armoured to provide greater protection to cater for difficult and dangerous environments such as those in Afghanistan," Senator Faulkner, Minister for Defence, said.
"The upgrade will ensure the ASLAV fleet provides the highest possible combat protection and capability in the future."
"During early 2005, Armatec and GDLSA responded to an urgent operational requirement to prepare enhanced ASLAVs for Operation Al Muthanna," Karl Pfister, CEO of Armatec Survivability, said.
"By mobilising our combined resources, and in co-operation with the Commonwealth, we were able to rapidly deliver a high-quality product prior to deployment of ASLAV equipped forces.
Land 112 Phase 4 provides an excellent opportunity for Armatec and GDLSA, supported by a local supply chain, to again deliver quality capability to Defence."