Australia readies for Hawkei development
The Australian government’s decision, announced 3 July 2012, to procure a further 214 Bushmaster vehicles for production at Thales Australia’s Bendigo facility will clear the way to begin developing Hawkei into a suitable vehicle for Project LAND 121 Phase 4.
The extra Bushmaster vehicle purchase will enable Thales Australia to retain the required critical skills until the Hawkei development programme begins.
LAND 121 Phase 4 is a $1.5 billion project to provide up to 1300 protected and unprotected light vehicles for Australian Army. Thales Australia’s Hawkei has been selected as the ‘preferred vehicle for the development and testing under Stage 2 of the Manufactured and Supported in Australia (MSA) option under LAND 121 Phase 4’, the Australian Department of Defence (DOD) said.
Following exhaustive testing and assessment of the MSA participants, the DOD has ‘recommended the Hawkei vehicle as the most likely to meet the future capability and value for money requirements of the LAND 121 Phase 4 MSA option’.
The next stage of Phase 4 will include funding for further development and testing including the manufacture of prototype vehicles.
Subject to successful testing of the vehicles, final government approval of the LAND 121 Phase 4 project is expected in 2015, with production potentially commencing in Australia as early as 2016.
In addition to ongoing development of the Hawkei, the DOD continues to monitor progress of the United States’ Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) programme, which is another possible option for LAND 121 Phase 4. Australia has previously committed $43 million towards the technology development phase of the JLTV programme.
The JLTV programme is currently progressing towards the engineering and manufacturing development phase. Contract award and the formal commencement of the engineering and manufacturing development phase is expected in mid-2012. While the Australian DOD continues to monitor progress in the programme, no further contribution or commitment has been made by Australia to enter the next phase.
More from Land Warfare
-
DSEI 2025: Avon Protection provides first sight of new goggle and details on half mask
Avon Protection has been growing and improving its integrated systems offerings. Last year the company released its Exoskin total protective suit system and earlier this year the MITR-M1 half mask.
-
DSEI 2025: Elbit Systems set to field joint fires systems as it looks to large UK requirements
Elbit Systems UK was awarded the Dismounted Joint Fires Integrators (D-JFI) programme in January 2021, which will integrate with the UK’s army, marines and air force. The parent company has decades of heritage in the UK and is looking to compete for the Watchkeeper drone replacement.
-
DSEI 2025: Milrem’s Havoc 8×8 robot to undergo live firing trials next year
The Havoc uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) was unveiled at IDEX 2025 in February. It is built around a hybrid electric powertrain which provides silent running over medium distances and silent watch for extended periods of time.