During the Ministerial 2+2 dialogue with Indonesia on September 9, Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton said that 15 Thales Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles were given to support Indonesia in carrying out the United Nation peacekeeping mission. Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and Dutton also agreed to sign an extension of defense cooperation or Defense Cooperation Arrangement between the two countries. Prabowo said the signing was the legal umbrella for defense cooperation between the two countries. Prabowo also admitted to talking with Peter Dutton to discuss the possibility of procuring the Bushmaster MRAP from Australia in the future.
The Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle or Infantry Mobility Vehicle is an Australian-built four-wheel drive armoured vehicle. The Bushmaster was primarily designed by the then government-owned Australian Defence Industries (ADI), and is currently produced by Thales Australia with a support contract provided by Oshkosh Truck following the acquisition of ADI. The Bushmaster is currently in service with the Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Netherlands Army, British Army, Japan Ground Self Defense Force, Fiji Infantry Regiment, Indonesian Army, Jamaica Defence Force and the New Zealand Army.
The Bushmaster is the first armoured vehicle to be designed and completely manufactured in Australia since the Sentinel tank during World War II. It is a mine protected vehicle and provides a high degree of protection against land mines, using its v-hull monocoque to deflect the blast away from the vehicle and its occupants. The vehicle’s armour provides protection against small arms of up to 7.62 mm ball ammunition, 81mm mortar fragments, Claymore mines, and with additional applique armour, protection for armour-piercing ammunition of up to 7.62mm. The Bushmaster is air transportable by C-130 Hercules, C-17 Globemaster III and Mil Mi-26 aircraft.
An Indonesian variant made by Pindad known as Sanca based on the Bushmaster but created to meet Indonesian requirements, was revealed on 3 November 2016 after it was announced on 28 October 2016 that Thales will work with Pindad. 50 Sancas are scheduled for delivery with 30 going to Indonesian forces stationed overseas on peacekeeping operations and 20 for Kopassus forces. Sanca means Python in the Indonesian language. The Sanca is made in collaboration with PT Len, meant to demonstrate the C5i concept (Combat Information) aside from the traditional C4 concept.
