News Review: Bushmaster protection upgrade complete | ADM Dec 2011 / Jan 2012

A program to upgrade Bushmaster vehicles with better protection against Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) has been completed. 

Although the upgrade was completed in Afghanistan in August 2011, defence materiel minister Jason Care didn’t make the announcement until November. Upgrades include the installation of new seating and flooring in the cabin to provide additional protection for commanders, drivers and the troops being transported.

Engineers from Thales and Sydney-based Stratos Seating developed the upgrades based on data from Bushmasters damaged by IEDs 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.

Meanwhile, Thales has delivered four Bushmaster ambulances to the Air Force Health Services Wing at RAAF Base Amberley; it is building 63 Bushmaster ambulances for the ADF worth more than $670,000 each and 25 have so far been delivered.

The Bushmaster ambulance can transport two stretchered patients, or one stretchered and four seated patients, at the one time.