New Delhi: Thales Australia has welcomed an investment of AU$750 million from the Australian Government in sovereign defence capability and will work hand in glove with the Australian Government to deliver an additional 268 next generation Bushmaster PMVs.
This announcement supports over 290 jobs and provides continuity for the Thales Bendigo workforce, reinforcing the long-term future of regional advanced manufacturing.
This investment will enable Thales Australia to develop the next generation Bushmaster with the Australian Defence Force, strengthening the Australian Army’s capability to deal with battlefield threats.
Capability enhancements include improved protection and mobility, advanced digital systems, and increased adaptability to meet the evolving needs of defence operations including:
- Increased capacity for carrying personnel and increased tow capacity
- Stronger additional armour
- Ability to carry more powerful weapons systems, including roof mounted effectors
- Opportunity to integrate a wide range of sensors and effectors to efficiently defeat threats
- A fully modular crew cabin allowing for versatile configurations based on user needs
- Designed for export with left-hand drive capability and next-gen comms interfaces.
This announcement bolsters Australia’s industrial capacity, to design, build and sustain key defence assets, while ensuring a robust supply chain. Production of the next generation Bushmaster will start in 2027.
More than 1300 Bushmasters have been manufactured at Thales’ Bendigo facility, with the vehicle being exported to eight nations including the UK, New Zealand, the Netherlands and Japan.
Hervé Dammann, Executive Vice-President, Land and Air Systems, Thales declared,“Thales is honoured by the trust placed by the Australian government on our world-class multirole vehicle, Bushmaster. This major contract for the delivery of hundreds of combat-proven vehicles demonstrates how government and industry can work together to deliver what this country needs.”
