Thales Australia (Hawkei), Force Protection Europe (Ocelot) and General Dynamics Land Systems Australia (Eagle) will be given around six months to produce two test-drive-ready prototype vehicles each.
This follows a government decision in 2008 to participate in the current US Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program, also working on the development of protected mobility vehicle prototypes.
Back in January we opined that of the 13 responses received, only four or five merited serious consideration with perhaps three going forward.
Those we saw as credible contenders - that is, they were proposed by established manufacturers - included Thales Australia, GDLSA, Force Protection and Oshkosh.
The first three will now go forward.
Thales Australia
Thales unveiled its Hawkei PMV-L concept in September 2009 following delivery of its formal response to the RFP.
Developed by Thales in Bendigo, the design draws on international and local expertise provided by Plasan, Boeing, PAC Group and various Australian SMEs.
Composite armour and hull design specialist Plasan Sasa of Israel has been involved in the design of the vehicle from the outset and successful blast tests have since been carried out in Israel.
The vehicle is built of armour-quality steel and clad with applique ceramic ‘smart armour', that can be removed or replaced to suit the mission.
(This was also a feature of the Oshkosh proposal, again based on Plasan's composite applique armour.)
General Dynamics Land Systems Australia
The General Dynamics Land 121 Phase 4 solution is based on the mature Eagle PMV-L design derived from DURO chassis technology and currently in-service with coalition forces in Afghanistan.
According to GD, the Eagle will be evolved to meet the MSIA PMV-L requirement while continuing to offer the proven mobility, survivability and reliability of the vehicles.
The vehicle's high ground clearance and lower ground pressure provides excellent mobility which, in combination with their tested citadel approach to survivability, will ensure superior levels of crew safety.
Force Protection
Force Protection is offering their versatile Ocelot design enabling a range of special-to-role pods to be mounted on the ‘skateboard‘ armoured spine configuration.
The readily changeable pods have been designed for roles such as patrol, fire support or protected logistics.
Four-wheel steering is common to all configurations and the vehicle can be transported in a C-130 or underslung from a Chinook.
Force Protection Europe has been invited by the UK MoD to tender for the Light Protected Patrol Vehicle Program - Demonstration, Production and Support Phases.