Japan orders four Bushmaster troop carrier vehicles
Thales Australia has secured a new customer for its Bushmaster vehicles, with the Japanese Ministry of Defence (MoD) placing an order the vehicle on behalf of the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force. The order, announced on 7 April, is for four vehicles.
The order is for the troop carrier variant of the Bushmaster. They will be assembled at the company’s facility in Bendigo, Victoria, and delivered in late 2014.
Chris Jenkins, CEO, Thales Australia, said: ‘This new export order demonstrates the ongoing significance and versatility of the Bushmaster vehicle. With effective operational deployment across Afghanistan and Iraq, the Bushmaster has proven its effectiveness across urban landscapes as well as mountainous regions, making it uniquely suited to Japan’s geographic and urban environments.
‘This is the first time that Thales is providing platforms to Japan. Our aim is to be customer focused and to offer Thales Group’s seamless and convenient services and technologies to our customers in Japan. We look forward to working closely with the Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force as these vehicles enter service.’
More than 1,000 Thales Bushmaster vehicles have been sold to the armed forces of Australia, the Netherlands and Jamaica.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![US pours another $23 billion into Arsenal of Freedom to ramp up missile production]()
US pours another $23 billion into Arsenal of Freedom to ramp up missile production
The US Department of Defense (DoD) is spending billions of dollars to accelerate missile production to meet demands from the war against Iran and requirements in Ukraine. Manufacture of SM-3 and PAC-3 interceptors is being ramped up, alongside a $22.9 billion commitment to Tomahawk cruise missiles.
-
![Rheinmetall advances longer 155mm ordnance with 30% range increase]()
Rheinmetall advances longer 155mm ordnance with 30% range increase
Rheinmetall has begun initial firing trials of a new 155mm/60-calibre artillery ordnance that could deliver up to 30% greater range than its existing 155mm/52-calibre system, as production of the current gun expands across Germany and the UK.
-
![Trans-European iMUGS2 uncrewed systems programme set for three-day exercise in 2028]()
Trans-European iMUGS2 uncrewed systems programme set for three-day exercise in 2028
The next stage of the Integrated Modular Unmanned Ground System (iMUGS) programme, dubbed iMUGS2, was launched in November 2025. Three major demonstrations are planned before the end of 2028.
