Defence has ordered 40 additional Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles (PMV) from Thales Australia at a cost of more than $100 million.
"The Bushmaster vehicles will contribute to the acceleration of a land-based long-range strike capability for the Army, demonstrating a commitment to modernising the Australian Defence Force," said the Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, Pat Conroy.
The new vehicles will provide Command and Control (C2) capabilities for the weapons being procured through Project Land 8113 Phase 2—Second Long Range Fires Regiment. That project, approved in December 2024, will see the Army's 10th Brigade equipped with either Kongsberg's Naval Strike Missile or Lockheed Martin's Precision Strike Missile Increment 2 to provide a land-based maritime strike capability to Defence.
Whichever system is selected will be enhanced by the procurement of a multi-mission phased array radar battery. The new Bushmaster PMVs will also be used to support that battery.
In July 2024, Defence signed a $45 million contract with Thales Australia to deliver 15 C2 Bushmasters for the 10th Brigade's first Long Range Fires Regiment. That regiment, which will eventually operate 42 Lockheed Martin High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) vehicles, will be armed with Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets and Precision Strike Missile Increment 1 missiles.
“This additional investment will support hundreds of jobs, underscoring the Albanese Government’s commitment not only to the people of the Bendigo region but to building Australia’s future," Conroy added.