August 24, 2007:
The
Australian army has bought another 250 Bushmaster armored trucks. These will be
the improved models, that include a remotely controlled (from inside the
vehicle) machine-gun turret. This has
been a very popular feature in other armored vehicles. There are also
several improvements in crew protection, and a new cooling system for the
drinking water supply
Early models cost about $1.3
million each, but the new order will be a little under a million dollars per
vehicle. The Bushmaster is made in Australia and based on a South African
design concept, with a V shaped underside, to deflect mine and bomb blast. The
4x4, 15 ton vehicle has a crew of two and carries eight troops in what amounts
to an armored box. The vehicle is protected against 12.7mm machine-gun bullets,
and bombs and mines containing up to 21 pounds of explosives. The vehicle has a
top road speed of 125 kilometers an hour and a max road range of 1,000
kilometers. Lots of bulletproof glass is used, and in the troop compartment,
there are firing ports under the windows. The vehicle carries a gun ring, on a
hatch near the front of the crew compartment, that can mount a 5.56mm or 7.62mm
machine-gun. This is normally replaced by the remote control turret. The
vehicle is a comfortable ride. The Australian army already has over 400
Bushmasters, and the vehicles are popular with the troops.