On the move: A 1RAR soldier dismounts a Bushmaster to fire the 84mm rocket launcher during training at the range at Camp Holland in Afghanistan. Photo by Cpl Jamie Osborne
ARMY will receive at least another 220 Bushmasters, which will further strengthen the safety and protection levels of soldiers deployed overseas.
The new Bushmasters will be used in a range of specialist functions, such as ambulances, command vehicles, mortar and pioneer roles.
Overall the Australian Government will purchase at least 250 more Bushmasters – of which about 30 will be delivered to Air Force – at a cost of more than $300 million under Land 121, the Army B Vehicle replacement program.
Lt-Col Andrew Fidge, SO1 Land 121 Capability Implementation Team, said the capability requirement came about because CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy “directed that Army was to provide the best source of protection for our soldiers in the field”.
“This acquisition is part of the requirement for the functions of personnel working out of B vehicles,” Lt-Col Fidge said.
He said the threat profile for personnel deployed on operations had changed since the initial capability development work for Land 121.
“Over the last year a lot of work has been done to look at what options we can provide to give adequate levels of protection with what is required on the battlefield,” he said.
“The build standard of these vehicles will be consistent with existing Bushmasters to ensure we will have a common fleet.
“All of the features we have with our current fleet will be found with the new vehicles ordered.”
The total number of vehicles to be purchased is subject to a negotiated price contract with the Thales company, which manufactures the Bushmasters at its Bendigo facility.
“We would expect to see some of the vehicles in this purchase batch to be delivered to Army over the next couple of years,” Lt-Col Fidge said.
The new acquisitions will eventually take the number of Bushmasters in service in the Army to almost 700. At present, 300 have been delivered and, under the Enhanced Land Force project, Army is purchasing another 143 vehicles.
