News: Thales welcomes additional Bushmaster orders | ADM August 2012

The government have confirmed the acquisition of a further 214 Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles. Thales Australia is currently manufacturing Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles at its factory in Bendigo. This manufacturing capability, and the skills of the workforce, is an important national security capability, according to a statement from the Defence ministers Smith and Clare.

In December 2011, the Government announced that in order to retain critical skills in Bendigo it would explore the purchase of additional Bushmaster vehicles. In March 2012, the Government announced it would spend more than $15.5 million to manufacture long lead components of the next tranche of Bushmaster vehicles from Thales Australia’s Bendigo factory.

These 214 vehicles are in addition to the purchase of 101 Bushmasters to support Australian Defence Force (ADF) operations in Afghanistan announced by the Government in May last year.

The new Bushmaster vehicles will progressively replace the oldest Bushmasters in the present fleet and as well provide ongoing protected mobility for the command and control of artillery. Production of the additional Bushmaster vehicles will commence in October 2012. The purchase is coming from current year DCP allocations under Land 166 Phase 3.2, a Defence spokesperson confirmed to ADM. Production will be based on successive tranches of 50 vehicles with orders dependent on Thales meeting key milestones to develop Hawkei into a suitable vehicle for Project Land 121 Phase 4.

“Continuity of production is vital to maintain strategic industrial capabilities,” Thales Australia CEO Chris Jenkins said. “Lack of continuity or confidence means skilled workforces are difficult to maintain and supply chains are disrupted.

“Every Bushmaster built at our facility in Bendigo includes parts from around 100 Australian SMEs in our supply chain. This announcement also gives them confidence and continuity.”