The Australian Government has committed to a $100 million investment for the production of 44 additional Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles (PMVs) at Thales Australia’s facility in Bendigo.
This latest order reinforces national security efforts while bolstering local manufacturing capabilities, Thales said in a news release.
The new Bushmasters will serve the Australian Army’s second long-range fires regiment, based at the Edinburgh Defence Precinct in South Australia as part of the 10th Fires Brigade.
Jeff Connolly, CEO of Thales Australia and New Zealand, described the investment as a significant step forward for the country’s defence sector.
“This is an important investment by the Government in Australia’s industrial base that will deliver the capabilities our army needs – a battle-proven and locally-made platform that will get the job done for decades to come,” he said.
Thales’ Bendigo facility, known as the Protected Vehicle Centre of Excellence, has already produced over 1,300 Bushmasters, exporting to eight nations, including the UK, Japan, and New Zealand.
The platform offers troop-carrier, command, patrol, and ambulance variants, making it a sought-after asset in global defence markets.
“What makes the Bushmaster so special is our nationally critical manufacturing facility at Bendigo and its unique blend of the engineering expertise, technical skills, and dedicated workforce who do such a great job for the nation,” Connolly added.
The government’s investment brings the total commitment to over $300 million, ensuring the continuity of operations at the Bendigo facility.
This stability will allow Thales Australia to upgrade existing Bushmaster models and work on next-generation variants to meet evolving defence needs.
“This vote of confidence in the Bushmaster platform means Thales Australia and its workforce will have the confidence to design and deliver future upgrades as well as next-generation capabilities for the vehicle,” Connolly emphasised.
