First Hawkei vehicles handed over to ADF
The first batch of ten Hawkei protected vehicles has now been handed over to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) by Thales. The Australian government announced the programme milestone on 14 November.
Thales Australia is under contract to produce 1,100 Hawkei vehicles for the ADF, along with more than 1000 companion trailers. The contract, worth $1.3 billion, was signed in October 2015.
With the first batch of vehicles now delivered, full-rate production at the company’s Bendigo facility is set to begin in 2018. All vehicles and trailers will be delivered to the ADF by the end of 2021.
The Australian Army will use the vehicles for reconnaissance, liaison, command and utility functions.
Australia’s Minister for Defence Industry, Christopher Pyne, said at the handover ceremony: ‘The [Hawkei] vehicle represents an entirely new capability for the army, providing a similar level of protection to a Bushmaster at about half the weight.
The Hawkei is a smaller vehicle that carries up to four troops and can be lifted by a Chinook helicopter. It will provide significantly improved protection for soldiers against blast and ballistic threats, with a high level of mobility that will allow it to operate in high-risk areas.’
More from Land Warfare
-
![Israel ramps up Arrow-4 development following Iranian attack]()
Israel ramps up Arrow-4 development following Iranian attack
Israel’s Ministry of Defense has fast-tracked the development of the Arrow-4 ballistic missile interceptor in response to recent Iranian ballistic missile attacks.
-
![Saab to manufacture Carl-Gustaf M4 near New Delhi as Swedish firm eyes Indian expansion]()
Saab to manufacture Carl-Gustaf M4 near New Delhi as Swedish firm eyes Indian expansion
Saab has planned to build “a streamlined ownership structure” in India to accelerate its investment plans and developing capabilities in the country.
-
![Japan orders THeMIS UGVs]()
Japan orders THeMIS UGVs
Milrem’s Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) is a modular, multimission, hybrid UGV. The current fifth-generation model incorporates knowledge gained during tests in the US, Europe and the Middle East, as well as during field-deployment in Mali in the French-led Operation Barkhane.
-
![NATO orders more 155mm ammunition]()
NATO orders more 155mm ammunition
The contract, in the triple-digit million euro range, includes high explosive extended range projectiles, modular charges, fuzes and primers.
-
![US deploys Mid-Range Capability missile defence system to the Philippines]()
US deploys Mid-Range Capability missile defence system to the Philippines
Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile defence system has leveraged Lockheed Martin’s expertise with two in-service USN systems: the MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) and the Aegis Weapon System.
