40 new Bushmasters ordered by Defence
Thales Australia will build 40 new Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles in Bendigo to be used by the Army’s second long-range fires regiment, which will be based at the Edinburgh Defence Precinct in South Australia.
FILE PHOTO: An Australian Army Bushmaster protected mobility vehicle disembarks from a landing craft during Exercise Keris Woomera at Banongan Beach, Indonesia. Photo by Leading Seaman Rikki-Lea Phillips.
These additional Bushmasters will support a multi-mission phased array radar battery to provide critical command and control functions.
The contract, valued at more than $100 million, will maintain hundreds of jobs at the Bendigo plant which has suffered from sporadic government investment.
Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy said these new Bushmaster vehicles would contribute to the acceleration of a land-based long-range strike capability for the Australian Army.
EDITOR’S NOTE: With all the party-political spin removed from the press release, there is very little left in the way of substance – but these are all the facts we have managed to extract from a lengthy press release filled with all the latest ‘talking points’ – which have been regurgitated ad nauseam.
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Thank you for providing us with the facts and leaving the BS out!
I believe it was right to equip Ukraine with Bushmasters even before adding to our own 800+. They are at war and fighting for more than their own homeland!
Thank you for providing us with the facts and leaving the BS out. ????
I believe it was right to equip Ukraine with Bushmasters even before adding to our own 800+. They are at war and fighting for more than their own homeland!
Instead of sending Bushmasters to Ukraine, how about the Pollies kit out Australian Army units first, both Regular and Reserve. Its a joke that Ukraine (after receiving the Bushmasters) was better equiped that most Reserve Units on the Australian Army ORBAT.
Before we start sending equipment and money offshore, how about we look at our own backyard first.
Obviously needed to replace the Bushmasters sent to Ukraine.