Thales Australia has today unveiled the next-generation Bushmaster at the Eurosatory tradeshow in France, officially revealed by Major General Jason Blain, Head of Land Systems, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group for the Australian Defence Forces and Julien Assoun, Vice-President, Vehicles and Tactical Systems, Thales, at a ceremony on the Team Defence Australia stand.
The unveiling showcased a Bushmaster named 5.6 or Mulga utility variant capable of integrating a range of different sensors, effectors and mission systems to meet contemporary warfighting needs. It is designed for use by global customers, highlighted by the new left-hand drive setup.
This new Bushmaster 5.6 variant evolves the combat-proven Bushmaster platform into an adaptable battlefield vehicle with enhanced capability, connectivity and survivability ready for modern and future battlefields.
As battlefields become more connected and threats such as drones become ubiquitous, military vehicles need to be capable of meeting multiple mission needs, including detecting threats, sharing information, supporting autonomous systems and integrating new technologies quickly.
The Bushmaster 5.6 has been developed to fulfil this role, rapidly evolving into a highly connected sensor and effector platform ready for the demands of modern and future warfare, by adding powerful offensive capabilities to its traditional defensive role, such as Thales laser guided rockets, for example. With this upgrade, the Bushmaster family will combine its combat-proven protected mobility and agility with offensive capability against new threats.
The Bushmaster, produced in Bendigo, Victoria (Australia), continues to evolve to best serve the needs of its crews and operators, incorporating new front-door access, improved vehicle entry, digital displays and advanced vehicle monitoring systems so to improve usability, sustainment and support in the field.it has been successfully deployed and trusted by armed forces around the world and continues to evolve through ongoing innovation, integration of operational lessons and customer collaboration.
”The Bushmaster has built a global reputation for protection, mobility and reliability – this next-generation vehicle demonstrates how the platform continues to evolve in response to changing threats, emerging technologies and customer needs. Already a trusted defender, the Bushmaster 5.6 has been designed to provide greater flexibility for modern missions, particularly in areas like counter drone operations, sensing, communications and electronic warfare.” Julien Assoun, Vice-President Vehicles and Tactical Systems.