On operation: Armoured Personnel Carriers from 3/4 Cavalry Regiment enter the front gates to the Dilli wharf precinct to strengthen security while HMAS TOBRUK unload troops and equipment ashore at Dilli harbour, East Timor, during Op Astute.
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The M113 upgrade project is now back on track and estimated to meet its original schedule and specifications within budget.
The Land 106 project will deliver 350 upgraded M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier vehicles with improvements in their protection, firepower, mobility and supportability.
The M113 project experienced some well-known technical problems in the development phase, and it was feared these problems would impact on the cost and schedule of the project. However, the serious technical risks faced by the project have now been resolved, the schedule pressures have been reduced, and the project does not face cost pressures.
Sixteen vehicles had been been delivered to the Army’s 7RAR (mechanised infantry). Another nine vehicles (six initial production vehicles and three pre-production vehicles) were being operated in training at Puckapunyal and Bandiana. A further ten vehicles were to be issued for training in the short term.
“Production at Tenix’s Bandiana facilities is now being ramped up from approximately four vehicles per month to more than 10 vehicles per month to achieve the delivery of the final vehicle by December 2010, in accordance with the original schedule,” said Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement, Mr Greg Combet.
“Under the project, a total of 329 vehicles are due to be upgraded to the 18 tonne M113AS4 standard, and 21 vehicles will be upgraded to the 15 tonne M113AS3 standard. I would like to thank both Tenix and DMO for all of their hard work in providing a way forward for this project,” Mr Combet said. |
