During times of conflict, the ability to acquire equipment rapidly or provide enhanced capability to troops in the field is crucial to the operational success of the ADF.
DMO’s Land Systems Division (LSD), along with Australian and international industry, has led the way with the rapid acquisition of enhanced capabilities to support the ADF in Iraq .
The early deployment of the new Infantry Mobility Vehicle to Iraq demonstrates how responsive Defence and industry can be in meeting operational needs. The vehicles were undergoing acceptance into service when it was decided that six would be required to support deployed forces in Iraq . Four further vehicles were commissioned as back up. The Bushranger Project Office in LSD worked closely with the contractor, ADI Limited, to deliver the vehicles and support package to the Army within its deployment timeframe.
‘The Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicle provides our forces with a high level of protection, not previously available with light skinned vehicles’, Bushranger Project Manager, Lieutenant Colonel Louise Abell said.
‘Another key benefit the vehicles provide is enhanced mobility, allowing our forces to cover a larger area of operations’, she added.
Close ties between Defence and industry were also established to support enhancements to the Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV).
‘The security environment in Iraq has been such that the requirement to enhance the survivability of our ASLAVs was identified’, ASLAV Program Manager, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Harris said.
General Dynamic Land Systems-Australia in conjunction with the program office, developed a prototype bar armour system and spall liners for the ASLAVs within a very short timeframe. After thorough testing the bar armour was immediately fitted to deployed vehicles and the installation of the hard spall liners was recently completed in Kuwait .
Force protection was beefed up by the rapid introduction of the remote weapon station to the type 2 personnel carrier and command vehicles, as well as the type 3 fitter and recovery variants of the ASLAV.
‘The ASLAV fleet now provides our soldiers with one of the best solutions possible to a potential attack’, Lieutenant Colonel Harris concluded.
Defence and industry have also sped up the delivery of major components of the Australian Soldier Modernisation Program – Project Land 125 and a range of specialist clothing and equipment to provide enhanced close combat capabilities for our deployed soldiers.
The Al Muthanna Task Group deployments, AMTG-1 and AMTG-2, the Security Detachment and Special Forces Task Group have received deliveries of many items of equipment to meet their specialist needs within short timeframes. This has included more than 1200 sets of the Land 125 chest webbing component of the individual combat load carriage ensemble, a range of extreme cold weather equipment and disruptive pattern desert uniforms.
This capability was delivered in a matter of weeks as a result of close cooperation with a number of contractors. While many of these contractors were already engaged in the production of Defence equipment, they demonstrated the ability to incorporate emerging demands into their existing production schedules and have met additional requirements with flexible approaches.
The Land 125 project has also worked closely with industry to acquire elbow and knee pads for a number of urgent operational requirements. This equipment has been employed on operations since December 2004 and is providing an interim capability until a final solution is determined under a current tender evaluation.
Australia ’s operational commitment in Iraq has set new challenges and required enhanced capabilities and systems to support the ADF. Through effective partnerships, LSD and industry are providing responsive solutions that meet Defence’s needs, resulting in better equipped, better trained and better protected Australian soldiers deployed on operations. |
