The contract signature to purchase an additional 101 Bushmaster vehicles from Thales Australia was among a number of announcements made by Defence Minister Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare at a joint press conference in Canberra.
This acquisition had previously been flagged in the Federal Budget on May 12.
The vehicles, together with associated support, are being purchased at a total cost of $133 million.
This is for the vehicles and fitting Middle East Area of Operations protection kits including protected weapons stations.
It also includes funding to evaluate a range of enhancements to the Bushmaster vehicle to increase the level of protection it provides to ADF personnel.
If these enhancements are viable they may be applied to the 101 vehicles.
The addition of these vehicles will take the total number of Bushmasters ordered by Defence to 838.
The vehicles will be manufactured at Thales Australia’s Bendigo facility and will be delivered over the next 18 months. These vehicles are being procured to address operational requirements.
31 Bushmasters have been damaged beyond repair in recent years and their replacement plus a further 70 vehicles will support current and future operations.