Projects
LAND 116 Bushranger
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Phase 3 Point of Contact |
Project Overview
Project BUSHRANGER will provide protected land mobility to Army combat units and the Royal Australian Air Force’s Airfield Defence Guards with the Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle (PMV).
A total of 737 Thales Australia Bushmaster vehicles in seven variants will be acquired. The variants are Troop; Command; Mortar; Assault Pioneer; Direct Fire Weapon; Ambulance; and Air Defence.
The design process for the PMV included the use of mock-up and prototype-based development prior to starting production in late 2003. Delivery of the PMV commenced in 2004 with all vehicles planned to be in service by 2012.
The PMV combines good performance, safety and comfort in a rugged vehicle, which operates over the most demanding terrain. Its extended range, high cruising speed and comfortable crew cabin ensure that troops arrive at their objective in peak condition.
Current Phase
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Phase 3 – Procurement of the PMVs (1999 - 2013)
Phase 3 is the procurement phase for the PMVs. ADI Limited (now Thales Australia) was announced as the preferred tenderer on 10 March 1999. A contract was negotiated with ADI Limited, and signed on 1 June 1999 for the supply of 370 PMVs to meet the capability requirement. In 2002, the Production Contract was re-negotiated within the same project funding limits to provide for 300 PMVs, with a revised schedule.
Current Status:
All vehicles from the original contract have now been delivered. In December 2006, the Government announced that Defence would be acquiring an additional 144 PMVs under the Enhanced Land Force (ELF). Delivery of these vehicles commenced in October 2007 and will be completed in April 2009.
An additional order of Bushmaster vehicles was approved by Government in August 2007 to satisfy Land 121 Overlander Phase 3. Successful negotiations with Thales has resulted in an additional 293 vehicles, with delivery commencing after the ELF vehicles and completed by June 2012.
The protection level of the Bushmaster has been enhanced through the rapid acquisition of an additional 72 Protected Weapon Stations, 116 Automatic Fire Suppression Systems and 116 Removable SPALL Curtain Systems. Investigations into armour protection enhancements continue with an external lightweight solution being researched.
A Support Services Contract with Thales Australia, effective from 26 March 2006, provides logistics support to the fleet for a period of six years with options to extend.
Point of Contact
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LAND 116 BushrangerCombat Support Vehicles Systems Program Office
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Land Manoeuvre Systems Branch
Land Systems Division
Defence Materiel Organisation
Victoria Barracks Melbourne
256-310 St Kilda Road
SOUTHBANK VIC 3006
Australia
Program Manager
Telephone: +61 3 9282 3940
Facsimile: +61 3 9282 4415
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Last Updated: May 2009