News Review: First G-Wagons delivered | ADM Apr 2010

1 April 2010

The ADF has taken delivery of 11 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon vehicles, which will be used for compliance and acceptance testing.

Full production will commence later this year, when testing is complete, with deliveries due to start in 2011.

"Under Project Land 121 the Defence Materiel Organisation is acquiring 1,200 of the G-Wagon vehicles in order to replace the current fleet of Land Rover vehicles which have been in service since 1987," defence materiel minister Greg Combet said.

"The G-Wagon offers enhanced levels of mobility and operational functionality and will provide a new capability for Defence.

"It is already used by the defence forces of Austria, Canada, Germany, Singapore and the United States.

"The Australian-built G-Wagons are powered by a Mercedes-Benz 3.0 litre turbo-diesel V6 engine and will include four-wheel drive station wagons; cab-chassis units; and six-wheel drive vehicles in both single and dual cab-chassis configuration.

"Specific models of the G-Wagon will be fitted with specialist modules (for example Ambulance and Command Posts)," Combet said.

"These modules will be built by the Australian Engineering firm G.H. Varley Pty Ltd of Newcastle.

"This will directly create 75 and indirectly lead to a further 100 jobs for the Hunter Region.

"The vehicles can also be fitted with additional armoured protection when required," he added.