Defence company Thales is set to construct another 268 Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in a deal worth $750 million.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said these additional Bushmasters would significantly boost ADF combat capability and force projection as part of a modernised protected mobility fleet able to operate in our immediate region.
“Bushmasters are critical to the integrated force – including littoral manoeuvre, long range fires and the amphibious capable combined arms land system,” he said.
As well, Australia is supplying an unspecified number of Bushmasters to the Netherlands, already a Bushmaster operator.
Marles said in response to a request, the Albanese Government has also agreed for recently delivered Bushmasters to be sold to the Netherlands.
But out of respect to the Netherlands, the actual number would not be disclosed.
“What this is, is a major reinvestment in Australia's own protected mobility fleet and Bushmasters is at the heart of that,” he said.
Bushmaster is a wheeled vehicle able to transport nine troops in air-conditioned comfort while providing a high level of protection against IED and gunfire.
Bushmasters have served in Iraq and Afghanistan and have been acquired by the Netherlands and UK, with 120 supplied to Ukraine. Other users include New Zealand, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan and Jamaica.
The ADF first deployed Bushmaster operationally in East Timor in 1999, with more than 1000 now in service.
They are manufactured at the Thales facility in Bendigo, Victoria.
Marles said as the protected mobility vehicle of choice for nine countries, the Bushmaster was an Australian defence industry success story and a priority capability for the Australian Defence Strategic Sales Office.
He said the manufacture of these new Bushmasters adds to the vehicles already being built to replace those gifted to Ukraine to support its fight against Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion. A further 59 vehicles are being acquired under Land 8113.
"Under Land 8113, Army will acquire 59 troop-variant and command-variant Bushmaster vehicles. The command variants will be fitted with specialist command and control equipment to support the operation of the Long Range Fires capability," a Defence spokesperson stated.
The government is also investing $450 million towards upgrades of the Thales Hawkei protected mobility vehicles, and the Rheinmetall Medium/Heavy Truck Capability as part of the 2026 Integrated Investment Program’s (IIP) protected mobility vehicle modernisation program.
The modernisation of Hawkei vehicles will be conducted by Thales in Brisbane.
All up, the government is investing $1.2 billion in uplifting ADF’s fleet of protected mobility vehicles.
“The Australian-built Bushmaster and Hawkei are recognised as world-leading protected mobility vehicles,” Marles said.
“Through this investment the Albanese Government is sustaining Australian jobs, strengthening our national defence industry and delivering a capability that protects the lives of Australian Defence Force personnel.”
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said the Bendigo-built Bushmaster was an iconic Australian vehicle which delivered world-leading protection to the ADF.
“We’re building close to 300 new Bushmasters, securing around 300 local jobs and delivering long-term certainty to the industry, workers and region that depends on this critical capability,” he said.