Army has deployed two Hawkei light Protected Military Vehicles (PMV-L) into the Middle East Region as part of a Defence trial to test their sustainability overseas and their ability to deploy to and from an operational area.
Defence Minister Marise Payne said the trial vehicles were sent to Iraq’s Taji Military Complex embedded within Task Group Taji Six.
“This will enable the Army to learn how to best deploy this capability to an operational environment and ensure it is ready prior to full production in 2019,” Minister Payne said.
Under Project Land 121 Phase 4 Defence is acquiring 1,100 Hawkei along with 1,058 companion trailers at a cost of $1.3 billion. Initial operational capability is scheduled for 2019 and full operational capability is anticipated in 2023.