Thales assures future of Hawkei engines
To ensure ongoing production of the Thales Australia Hawkei 4x4 light protected mobility vehicle for the Australian Army, the Thales conglomerate has acquired the vehicle’s engine maker, which had gone into bankruptcy.
The Austrian company Steyr Motors went into receivership in February after it filed for restructuring in November 2018.
This came as a blow to the Hawkei programme, which was already suffered its own share of problems and delays.
The 7t Hawkei vehicle employs a Steyr M16 VTI 3.2-litre 6-cylinder twin-turbo engine that produces 272hp. This diesel engine is coupled to a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, giving the Australian-manufactured
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Land Warfare
-
Uncrewed ground vehicles put to the test as NATO eyes autonomous shift
The European Land Robot Trials are influenced by NATO researchers seeking to create uncrewed ground vehicle standards for allied Western forces working in multinational task forces.
-
More details revealed on Kosovo’s Humvee Hawkeye 105mm order
The agreement points to growing international interest in mobile and survivable artillery systems, with further orders and export opportunities already emerging.
-
UK Defence Investment Plan: What does it mean for the British Army?
The UK’s Defence Investment Plan splurges big for future air and naval programmes, including new hybrid ships, but there are fewer big-ticket items for British Army vehicles. Shephard’s Damian Kemp looks at the much delayed plan.