FRENCH-OWNED defence contractor Thales Australia has delivered a batch of 10 pilot production vehicles to the Army as part of its $1.3 billion contract.

The Hawkei vehicles were the first produced on the new production line at the Bendigo plant in Victoria where Thales also makes the 10-passenger Bushmaster troop carrier.

Defence industry minister Christopher Pyne said the Hawkei represented a triumph for the growing defence industry when the ninth and 10th vehicles were handed over last week.

“The Hawkei, built right here in Australia, in another triumph of the defence capability of our defence industry, which is able to compete with the world’s best,” Mr Pyne said.

The vehicle was fortunate to get into the procurement process as it was excluded from the initial list of preferred tenderers who received research and development funding.

The initial intention was for Australia to participate in a joint development program with the United States. Australia actually funded nine of the first 30 Joint Light Tactical Vehicle prototypes built in the program, which was created to replace the Humvee vehicle.

However, the program was delayed as the US Army changed the design criteria in 2011, increasing the levels of blast protection. Later that year the Australian department of defence named the Hawkei as the preferred vehicle.

Under the Project Land 121 Phase 4 contract, Thales will supply 1100 Hawkei vehicles and more than 1000 companion trailers.

Deliveries are scheduled to start in 2018 and be complete by 2021, during which time the Hawkei will be Australia’s highest-volume locally produced vehicle, at around 350 a year.

Mr Pyne said that Hawkei production would maintain around 170 jobs in the Bendigo region, with a further 60 jobs to be created in the supply chain when production commences. There will be further jobs created in Queensland, where the Army will establish a maintenance base.

“The vehicle represents an entirely new capability for the Army,” Mr Pyne said, “providing a similar level of protection to a Bushmaster at about half the weight.”

Weight was a key criterion in the specifications of the Protected Mobility Vehicle (Light) contract, otherwise known as Project Land 121 Phase 4. The vehicle had to weigh less than 7000kg so it could be airlifted by a Chinook helicopter.

The Hawkei can seat up to six including the driver whereas the Bushmaster can carry a driver and nine troops. Almost 1200 Bushmasters have been built, with the Dutch defence forces operating 98, Jamaica 12 and Japan four. It is believed the British armed forces also have some Bushmasters.

Its V-shaped steel under-body gives the occupants greater protection against blasts from improvised explosive devices while the body work gives improved ballistic protection.

The Hawkei is built in three modules, with the occupants in the centre survival cell. At the front, the engine and transmission are placed side by side to make for easier replacement and also to keep the cabin as roomy as possible.

It is powered by a Steyr 3.2 litre turbo-diesel producing 200kW/610Nm and weighing only 240kg. The transmission is a ZF six-speed automatic.

The rear module is also designed as a sacrificial section, the space-frame is capable of carrying a variety of bodywork and loads according to which variant the vehicle is: command, liaison, special operations, border protection or utility.

When the government declared that Thales had won the Land 121 Phase 4 contract, Thales Australia chief executive Chris Jenkins said the Hawkei had a strong future ahead of it and that the local arm would be assisted by the global Thales group in securing export sales.

“This is a great day for the ADF (Australian Defence Forces) and for Australian industry,” he said.

He said the Hawkei was a flexible vehicle and that there were already several variants. He said Thales would be ready to adapt it to any other requirements.

“We also thank our many suppliers on the program – companies in Australia and overseas that have been with us on this long journey, and who have played a significant role in shaping the Hawkei and contributing to its success,” Mr Jenkins said.

“It’s a great story about what Australian industry and international partnerships can achieve.

“As we move into the manufacturing phase, we will now be able to consolidate the work already begun across the Thales group worldwide to ensure the export success of this impressive vehicle.”

By Ian Porter