25 of 43 4x4s Now Delivered
The first batch of 18 new Bushmaster NZ5.5 protected mobility vehicles (PMVs) has arrived in New Zealand.
In an event marking the arrival of the 4×4 vehicles on 25 May at Trentham Military Camp, Defence Minister Andrew Little stated that the Bushmasters will offer a significant improvement in capability over the Pinzgauer armoured vehicles they will replace, not least because of the v-hulled protection they provide.
A total of 43 Bushmasters are on order from Thales Australia for NZ$102.9 million (US$62.4 million) under the Protected Mobility Capability Project (PMCP), replacing the fleet of 60 armoured Pinzgauers. Little explained that fewer Bushmasters are needed as replacements because the vehicles can hold eight personnel, compared to the Pinzgauers four.
Direct comparison of the two vehicles demonstrates the difference in size and capability. Supporting the Pinzgauer is increasingly difficult as production ceased in 2009.
A second batch of seven Bushmasters was delivered to New Zealand on the same day, completing delivery of the 25 troop-carrying variants. Other variants include 10 command and control, four ambulances, two logistics and two maintenance vehicles – all scheduled for delivery by September. Most of the vehicles will be used by Queen Alexandra’s Mounted Regiment (QAMR), located at Linton and Burnham military camps.
Some units will be fitted with an interim C4 communications system, to allow training to begin at Trentham as soon as possible. A Request for Tender for a new C4 communications system is expected by mid-2023, to be delivered 2025-26 to allow the Bushmasters to be operationally deployed. Funding for the C4 system totals NZ$58 million in capital and NZ$32 million in operational funding over four years.
A spokesperson for the NZDF told MON “There will be continued Thales involvement with the initial training, capability integration testing and simulator installation. Thales instructors will deliver preliminary coursing to enable QAMR to put its people through operator coursing, as well as the maintenance and repair instructor programmes,” and confirmed that the design phase has started for new training, simulation and headquarters infrastructure to be built at Linton to support Bushmaster operations.
The NZ SAS has already received five Bushmasters, designated Special Operations Vehicle – Protected Heavy (SOV-PH), and has been operating them for some years. “NZSAS use of the Bushmasters has informed wider NZ Army training, support and maintenance planning[…] This has assisted with the procurement process and has been incorporated into the support arrangements of the Bushmaster fleet,” the spokesperson added.
Using the Bushmaster PMVs will improve the Army’s ability to cooperate and integrate with the Australian Army. The two forces signed the Plan ANZAC Bilateral Service Cooperation Plan in April, under which it is intended to field a New Zealand Motorised Infantry Battalion Group within an Australian brigade.
Meanwhile, the next stage of the Army’s PMCP programme will see procurement of 230 new utility trucks to replace Unimog trucks and 361 unarmoured Pinzgauers. A request for proposal is due in June 2023 for new Utility Vehicle – Medium (UV-M) and Utility Vehicles – Light (UV-L), with a selection scheduled for next year.
Tim Fish reporting from New Zealand for MON
