The Australian government is investing A$750 million to deliver a pipeline of Bushmasters for the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) fleet of protected mobility vehicles in regional Victoria, supporting around 300 local jobs for the next seven years. Thales Australia will build 268 new Bushmasters for the ADF at its Bendigo facility, continuing over 20 years of production of this world-leading capability and providing certainty to the workforce and region that depends on it.
The delivery of these additional Bushmasters will significantly boost the ADF’s combat capability and force projection, as part of a modernised protected mobility fleet able to operate in our immediate region. Bushmasters are critical to the integrated force – including littoral manoeuvre, long range fires and the amphibious capable combined arms land system. As the protected mobility vehicle of choice for nine countries, the Bushmaster is an Australian defence industry success story and a priority capability for the Australian Defence Strategic Sales Office.
In response to a request, the government has also agreed for recently delivered Bushmasters to be sold to the Netherlands. This export provides further certainty to the Bendigo workforce, with Thales to replace these vehicles for the ADF in their next production round at no cost and in addition to this new order for the Army.
The manufacture of these Bushmasters adds to the vehicles already being built to replace those gifted to Ukraine – to support its fight against Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion – and 59 vehicles being acquired under LAND 8113.
The government is also investing $450 million towards upgrades of the Thales Hawkei protected mobility vehicles, and the Rheinmetall Medium/Heavy Truck Capability as part of the 2026 Integrated Investment Program’s protected mobility vehicle modernisation program. The modernisation of the Hawkei vehicles will be conducted by Thales in Brisbane, supporting 150 local jobs, and many more across the supply chain in Australia.
Through these projects, the Albanese Government is investing $1.2 billion in uplifting ADF’s fleet of protected mobility vehicles. This work will further strengthen Australia’s sovereign defence industry, as well as deliver significant benefits for the local workforce in both Bendigo and Brisbane.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said: “The Australian-built Bushmaster and Hawkei are recognised as world-leading protected mobility vehicles. Through this investment the Albanese Government is sustaining Australian jobs, strengthening our national defence industry and delivering a capability that protects the lives of Australian Defence Force personnel.”
Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said: “Built in Bendigo, Bushmasters are an iconic Australian vehicle that delivers world-leading protection to the Australian Defence Force. We’re building close to 300 new Bushmasters, securing around 300 local jobs and delivering long-term certainty to the industry, workers and region that depends on this critical capability.”
Thales Australia said in a separate statement that it welcomed the investment “and will work hand in glove with the Australian government to deliver an additional 268 next generation Bushmaster PMVs”. 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 1400 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.
Jeff Connolly, CEO Thales Australia & New Zealand said: “This landmark contract ensures the continued evolution of one of the nation’s most trusted and successful military vehicles. The Bushmaster is more than a vehicle, it is a proven life-saving capability operating in the most challenging environments. The Australian government is investing in a unique facility. This announcement supports regional jobs, advanced manufacturing, strengthens the national industrial base, and ensures critical defence expertise remains in Australia.”
Andrew Downes, Vice-President, Land, Thales in Australia said: “Making the Bushmaster in Bendigo is a future made in Australia for defence industry. This is a next-generation vehicle, ready for export and improved from lessons learned fighting in Ukraine. It’s also proof of what can happen when industry and Government work together – not only in just delivering a next generation vehicle but in making the investments to ensure our factory is for the 2030s for the manufacture of protected vehicles but also autonomous systems.”
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This is great news for both Australia’s defense and defense industry. Focusing on more of the basics to give good value.
In fact this is actually two great announcements. The description of “59 vehicles being acquired under LAND 8113” is the first confirmation I have seen that the ADF will get Strikemaster (59!). If yes that is a win for Kongsberg Newcastle, as well as Thales. Kongsberg are making the complete NSM in Australia, including guidance and comms. That also enables making JSM for the RAAF.
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/08/kongsberg-australia-secures-first-export-as-part-of-nsm-sale/
So this is a significant step towards a genuine local capability to maintain an “Echidna strategy” for Australia.
That’s a good point about LAND 8113, and I hope you are correct it’s for Strikemaster and not just general purpose use.
Order just put in for 48 new HIMARS so not looking good for Strikemaster.
Looks like those 59 additional Bushmasters are just support vehicles for the second long range strike Regiment
I think you are correct, unfortunately.
300 new bushmasters, is that what the army want or needs?
Im not sure the the bushy as good as it is and which has a place in the armoured force structure should be he main armoured vehicle in the army force structure!
If I was in the infantry I would rather be in a redback apc than a bushy, surely replacing 70 year old non deployable M113 apc is a bigger problem.
I would rather the army got another 30 redbacks than 300 more bushy’s so is it what we need or just props to Keep jobs in a labour electorate.
And before I hear drones, drones, drones. Infantry still need to occupy ground win it and they need to get there. Weapons development has alway brought new ideas and counter ideas otherwise we would all be still throwing rocks at each other,
I agree about Redback. Ukraine is showing that a modern IFV is more useful than a main battle tank in many circumstances. Same as 155mm SPH. Put some in storage if necessary – at least that way more will be available if we really need them. It’s extremely difficult to restart a production line once it has been shut.
Good news,however, it is a wheeled vehicle and will bog very easily in beach sand and do not go off road in the jungles of SE Asia. I tried to pull out six of them with my ASLAV-A in the desert of Iraq and I got bogged as well. Please remember it is a very good armoured truck; not a fighting vehicle.
Army needs more Redbacks! Or ACVs for swimming ashore to secure the island chain to our North. History and geography should be studied more not just buying votes in Victoria.
Agree totally.
Another problem most defence analyists do not mention; rotation of soldiers. When the RAAC had M113A1s, a squadron could lift an infantry battalion. In days passed, a crewman or an officer could be posted to Townsville, Brisbane, Sydney or Puckapunyal. If they stayed in they could even be posted to reserve units in SA, WA or the NT. The skill and experience became corporate knowedge. That is not the case with only one posting to 3 RAR; Townsville!
The death of our professional Army started in 1991 with the end of DFRDB. This with only make things worse! Why would anyone want to stay in Townsville; nice as it is; for an extended posting! Good luck with keeping the vehicles combat ready. Thank God that’s not my problem any more.