Hawkei undergoes fatigue testing
The second phase of fatigue testing on Australia’s new Hawkei vehicles has now begun at at Thales Australia’s manufacturing facility in Bendigo, Victoria.
The eight week test programme is being carried out by QinetiQ Australia to validate the predicted life of the vehicle's structure and to demonstrate improvements made since the company ran the first phase of fatigue tests on the prototype in 2010.
Australia is set to begin receiving its new Hawkei vehicles toward the end of 2017. The government ordered 1,100 vehicles and over 1,000 trailers for the Australian Army under a $1.3 billion contract with Thales signed in October 2015.
George McGuire, general manager land and maritime, QinetiQ Australia, said: ‘During the tests, we push the Hawkei to its absolute limits. We artificially recreate the various stresses the Hawkei might be under in the field by placing a combination of loads on the chassis, which are activated by computer-operated hydraulics powered by 100 litres of oil per minute. It is a very significant undertaking that requires a depth of technical expertise and practical implementation experience.’
Peter Goodwin, director operations, Thales Australia, added: ‘Both phases of this project have involved a high degree of teamwork and commitment between Thales and QinetiQ using a mix of personnel, equipment and facilities. QinetiQ is one of many suppliers that have played a significant role in shaping the Hawkei and contributing to its success. These full scale fatigue tests will ensure the Hawkei performs for the Australian Army over a long period of time during different stages of operation throughout its service life.’
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![Poland’s defence spending spree continues with $780 million US Javelin deal]()
Poland’s defence spending spree continues with $780 million US Javelin deal
Interest in Javelin has been on the rise across Europe over the past two years, but Poland’s order marks one of the largest acquisitions of the anti-tank missile system.
-
![DSEI 2025: Polaris displays new all-terrain vehicle with Alakran mortar system]()
DSEI 2025: Polaris displays new all-terrain vehicle with Alakran mortar system
The Polaris Government and Defense’s Military RZR (MRZR) Alpha 1KW was displayed at the Modern Day Marine exposition in the US earlier this year and with the Alakran mobile mortar weapon system at DSEI. The company outlined recent firing trials with the Alakran mobile mortar weapon system (MMWS) which was weeks after the company announced a major NATO deal.
-
![DSEI 2025: Thales creating new remote weapon station and Storm 2 counter-drone jammer]()
DSEI 2025: Thales creating new remote weapon station and Storm 2 counter-drone jammer
Thales launched Storm-H in 2012 as an EW system equipping individual dismounted troops, and a decade later revealed details to develop the improved and more powerful Storm 2.
-
![The integration between drones and land vehicles is accelerating]()
The integration between drones and land vehicles is accelerating
Drones and military ground vehicles are increasingly being designed to operate together as a single platform or even to convert crewed systems to automated ones.
