|
|
Background
— Armoured Patrol Vehicle Candidates — Bushmaster |
|
ADI’s Bushmaster [1] was the outcome of Australia’s ‘Project Bushranger’ to
develop a mine-resistant light APC. [2] The hull form follows that of South Africa’s Casspir (a V-shaped welded-steel monocoque) but the
Bushmaster’s design was begun by Ireland’s Timoney. In ADF parlance, a Bushmaster is an
‘Infantry Mobility Vehicle’ – others would say the small end of APCs. As such, Bushmasters are
rather large for patrol duty. But, flexibility is built in: ADI is offering an array of ‘Bushie’
variants including command, mortar, ambulance, and several other planned support
vehicles. [1]
|
|
|
In fine Aussie tradition, ADI also developed a Bushmaster ‘ute’ – the ACSV or
armoured combat support vehicle, a crew-protected convoy vehicle with a flat bed (10m2) grafted on. No requirement
for such a CF vehicle exists yet but this may be of future
interest.
|
|
|
The Bushmaster hull will withstand blast from two TM-57 anti-tank mines (equiva- lent to 19kg of TNT) and has
been tested extensively. ADI was slow getting Bush- master production underway, but now it seems to have
found its stride. Even so, the entry of Bushmaster into the contest for a CF APV (backed by Thales
Canada) appears to have surprised DND planners but, a greater size aside, the ‘Bushie’ did fit the
APV requirement.
|
|
|
ADI Bushmaster Infantry
Mobility Vehicle — Specifications
| Complement: |
1+10 as troop carrier / 1+4 for patrol |
Powerplant:
|
245 kW (330 hp) Caterpillar 3126B 6 cylinder
turbo diesel (Detroit Diesel ) |
| Transmission: |
8-speed (7+1) automatic ZF 7HP500 |
| Max speed: |
120 km/h / 0-80 km/h 25 seconds |
Protection:
|
(ballistic) 7.62x39mm AK, 5.56x45mm NATO
(landmine) single TM-57 / anti-personnel |
| Usable payload: |
1600 kg (usable payload) |
|
|
|
Despite its virtues and flexibility, Thales Canada reportedly pulled the Bushmaster IMV from the
CF APV contest at the last moment. Size was likely the key objection. The ADF chose its
Bushmaster to fit between jeeps and the ASLAV (the Aussie Coyote or Bison). CF APVs fill a
different slot but there may be room, in the future, for a CF Bushmaster-sized mine-protected vehicle. [3]
|
|
|
[1] In 2006, Australian Defence Industries became Thales Australia ( Thales group having previously owned
a 50 per cent share in ADI ).
[2] These include logistics, combat engineer, mineclearing, and weapons carrier variants (the last 3 types
based on the ‘flat-deck’ ACSV). Under their LAND 116 program, the ADF have ordered another 143 improved
Bushmaster IMVs to be delivered by 2008. The ADF Bushie was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in 2005.
Dutch army Bushmasters (an IOR purchase) have been in Afghanistan since October 2006.
[3] It has been suggested elsewhere that the Bushmaster would make a good mine-protected gun tractor to
replace withdrawn CF AVGPs.
|
|