The Manufactured and Supported in Australia (MSA) option under Ph 4 of Land 121 announced in May that three companies has been short-listed for further consideration and $9 million in government-funded development.
These companies were:
• Thales Australia's Hawkei
• General Dynamics Land Systems' Eagle IV and
• Force Protection's Ocelot
Force Protection has again met with potential suppliers as well as State Government ministers and industry representatives in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia.
Force Protection Chief Executive Officer, Michael Moody, said discussions with suppliers last year had opened up several manufacturing options for its Ocelot vehicle across the four states, and it was important to further progress these discussions now that the company had been short-listed for the Australian Government contract.
The MSA contenders will have to match or better the schedule and risk profile put forward by the US-led Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program that the program office is also examining.