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News
Bush
bash
IMV
passes final reliability test
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A
Bushmaster makes mud its friend during reliability trials.
Photo by Cpl Damian Shovell, Army newspaper
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By
Cpl Damian Shovell
Bushmaster
(MPEG video 3.60 MB)
THE Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicle (IMV) has passed final
reliability testing, adding another layer to the hardening of the
Army.
Defence Minister Robert Hill’s June 22 announcement that the
IMV had passed its Production Reliability Acceptance Test (PRAT)
heralds the introduction of 299 IMVs into service and a quantum
leap in protected mobility.
The final acceptance test is expected to be completed late next
month.
Designed and manufactured by ADI, the IMV is capable of accommodating
a full infantry section with equipment, offers exceptional on/off
road performance with speeds of up to 90km/h and ballistic protection
from small arms and mine blast with its specially welded v-shaped
monocoque hull and ballistically protected windows.
Commandant CATC Col Peter Singh said the delivery of the Bushmaster
would represent the culmination of 15 years of trial, research and
development in production of a motorised capability for Army that
will serve to bridge the capability gap that exists between armoured
fighting vehicles and B-vehicle fleets.
“Bushmaster delivers a tremendous new capacity in hardening
and networking Army as Motorised Combat Wing (MCW) receives the
first 18 vehicles this year with 299 vehicles expected in-service
by 2007,” he said.
The IMV fleet will consist of six variants including Troop, Command,
Ambulance, Direct Fire Weapon, Mortar and Assault Pioneer, which
will be employed from May 2005 within 7 Bde’s 25/49RQR and
supporting units and to Air Force’s Air Field Defence Guard
Quick Reaction Forces.
THE IMV will transport troops to the battlefield and is fitted with
weapons stations designed to accommodate section light machine guns.
The successful completion of PRAT also paves the way for ADI to
launch the Bushmaster IMV on the international market.
ADI’s managing director Lucio Di Bartolomeo said Bushmaster
was the first armoured vehicle designed and produced in Australia
since WW2.
Mr Di Bartolomeo said the Bushmaster had significant export potential,
being well suited for a wide range of military
operations. It had already attracted overseas interest.
“The United Arab Emirates will begin evaluation of the vehicle
in the next few months,” he said.
“Bushmaster was displayed in Paris this month at one of Europe’s
major military equipment exhibitions, Eurosatory, and attracted
considerable attention.”
Conducted by ADI and DSTO, PRAT included testing three IMVs for
five months over 110,000km on all terrains to test against all production
specifications including reliability, mileage and mean-time between
critical failure on breakdown for the engine in operational type
conditions.
DSTO then stripped and inspected the IMV for rates of malfunction
and wear in equipment to confirm the vehicle met Army’s reliability
acceptance mark.
OC MCW Capt John Papalitsas said PRAT was the largest hurdle for
the vehicle before introduction.
“At that point of the contract, the Army could have said ‘no,
it’s not as reliable as we need it to be, therefore we won’t
accept it’.
“It’s a very big milestone, as the vehicle has met all
reliability specifications and has only one step left before full
production of the fleet commences,” he said.
“This is the First Article Test that will be completed next
month.
“This is the ‘test till destruction’. It is a test
of all elements of the vehicle specifications.
“There are about 650 specifications, included in that is the
vehicle’s protective capabilities that were set for the project
that will again be tested against mine blast and munitions.
On successful completion of the final test, ADI will commence full
production, which will be about two-and-a-half vehicles a week.”
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