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
-
![Australian Army experiments with UGVs, but seeks understanding before proliferation]()
Australian Army experiments with UGVs, but seeks understanding before proliferation
The Australian Army is exploring the options and benefits of a wide range of UGVs.
-
![British Army’s Archer hits bullseye for capability and procurement]()
British Army’s Archer hits bullseye for capability and procurement
The Archer artillery system was rushed into service and training of British Army trainers began in October 2023 before live fire trials just over a year later.
-
![NZ begins modernisation of its tactical vehicle fleet]()
NZ begins modernisation of its tactical vehicle fleet
VAMTAC vehicles are expected to replace one-quarter of New Zealand’s Pinzgauers and Unimogs.
-
![Israel’s Elbit Systems riding high and reports almost a billion dollars in orders to close 2024]()
Israel’s Elbit Systems riding high and reports almost a billion dollars in orders to close 2024
Elbit Systems has signed another US$967 million in orders in the past three months after reporting its land revenues increased by 24% for 3Q2024 compared to 3Q 2023 thanks to increasing ammunition and munition sales in Israel.
