The Australian Goverment is continuing to support local jobs in Bendigo with a $45 million contract to build an additional 15 Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles. Thales Australia will build the Bushmaster vehicles in Bendigo, supporting hundreds of jobs in the local economy and many more jobs across the supply chain in Victoria. This contact will continue Bendigo’s more than 20-year history of producing these iconic vehicles that have seen service around the world. The additional 15 Bushmasters will facilitate command and control of Army’s High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) long-range fires regiment. This supports the Albanese Government’s $1.6 billion investment to accelerate the delivery of the first land-based long range fires capability for the Australian Defence Force (ADF), ensuring the ADF is equipped to deter potential threats and keep Australia safe.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Pat Conroy MP: “I am delighted to be back in Bendigo to announce a further $45 million investment in the region, with the production of an additional 15 Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles. This additional investment in Bendigo is another example of the Albanese Government’s commitment to a future made in Australia. Protected vehicles such as the Bushmaster are part of the Sovereign Defence Industrial Priorities in the Albanese Government’s Defence Industry Development Strategy, and this announcement shows we are supporting the Australian defence industry to deliver our priorities.”
Since coming to office, the Albanese Government has invested over $200 million in Bendigo for an additional 93 locally made Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles. The Bushmaster was primarily designed by the then government-owned Australian Defence Industries (ADI), and is currently produced by Thales Australia following their acquisition of ADI. It is the first armoured vehicle to be completely manufactured in Australia since the Sentinel tank during World War II. The iconic Bushmaster is currently in use in nine countries and is world renowned for its high level of protection and mobility for troops. In particular, it has seen commendable service in Ukraine through medical evacuation, command and control, and fire support roles as part of Ukraine’s efforts against Russia’s unilateral, illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine.
The Bushmaster is optimised for operations in northern Australia, and is capable of carrying up to 9 soldiers and their equipment, fuel and supplies for 3 days, depending on the type of variant. The Bushmaster 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, 81 mm mortar fragments, Claymore mines, and with additional applique armour, protection for armour-piercing ammunition of up to 7.62 mm. The Bushmaster is air transportable by the C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, as well as the Mil Mi-26 cargo helicopter.
