News Review: Land 121 Ph 4 MSA prototypes delivered for testing | ADM Apr 2011

The three Manufactured and Support in Australia (MSA) option contenders for Project Land 121 Ph 4 have delivered two prototype Protected Mobility Vehicles (Light) each to Defence for testing at Monegeetta.

Thales Australia’s CEO, Chris Jenkins, said the delivery of two Hawkei prototypes marked a significant chapter in a rapid development program that had made full use of the company’s protected mobility expertise.

“We have leveraged the experience gained on the highly successful Bushmaster program, and teamed with world-class partners including Plasan, Boeing Defence Australia and the PAC Group, to deliver a unique, innovative, and high performance vehicle to the Commonwealth,” he said.

Currently in service with several European armies, General Dynamics’ Eagle IV provides a combat-proven, low-risk system that delivers improved soldier protection, mobility and payload.

General Dynamics Land Systems-Australia has harnessed the global resources of General Dynamics to propose a vehicle system and long-term sustainment services that are a powerful match to the Commonwealth’s requirements for advanced technical performance and Australian content, according to Gary Stewart, managing director of General Dynamics Land Systems-Australia.

“A locally manufactured and supported Eagle vehicle represents a low-risk, high-capability option for the Australian Army. There is no substitute for operational experience when proving the credibility of an armoured vehicle system, and Eagle vehicles are saving lives today for United Nations forces in Afghanistan.”

“We’re very confident our design and manufacturing team have produced the most highly protected and agile vehicle of its size and weight available on today’s market,” according to Mike Moody, CEO of Force Protection Inc, which is offering the Ocelot, based on the Foxhound LPPV now in production for the British Army.

“Local suppliers and South Australian Government representatives have been extremely positive about working with us to manufacture the Ocelot in Australia,” Moody said. “We know we can build a world class vehicle utilising the best of Australian military and automotive manufacturing expertise and know-how.”

Testing is due to continue until the middle of this year when an ‘Interim Pass’ approval milestone will decide which of the contenders go forward to a competitive tender for Land 121 Ph 4.