Hawkei deal signed

The Australian Defence Force is set to benefit from the latest in light armoured personnel carriers, with the Australian Government announcing it will purchase 1100 examples of the locally produced Hawkei Light Protected Vehicle.

Named after a species of Australian Death Adder, the Hawkei is manufactured in Bendigo, Vic, by Thales Australia – the firm that also produces the heavier Bushmaster. Thales Australia is a part of the massive Thales Group, a French multinational active in the defence, aerospace, security and transport sectors.

The $1.3 billion deal will see the Hawkei and over 1000 trailers built for the ADF, the contract creating 170 jobs at the Bendigo facility and a further 60 elsewhere.

The new Hawkeis will replace aging examples of the ADF's Land Rovers.

The deal was signed by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull recently at the Australian Army's Monegeetta Proving Ground just north of Melbourne, where the vehicle's capabilities were put on show.

The four-wheel drive Hawkei features the latest advances in blast protection, yet at a weight of seven tonnes it's still light enough to be transported by a Chinook helicopter.

The vehicle boasts a 600 kilometre range and can be fitted with a roof-mounted .50 calibre machine gun and grenade launcher, while it's also equipped with the latest in communications technology, with screens allowing each occupant to keep track of rapidly evolving battlefield intelligence.

The Hawkei has room for four to six people and has a GVM of 10,400kg. It's powered by a Steyr 3.2-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine good for a claimed 200kW (268hp) and 610Nm, with the urge delivered via a ZF six-speed automatic transmission.

"The vehicle will be equipped with weapons and systems that will provide unparalleled situational awareness and lethality for a vehicle of this size and weight," says Thales Australia.

Chris Jenkins, CEO of Thales Australia, said the firm was delighted with the order.

"This is a great day for the ADF and for Australian industry," he said.

"Hawkei is a highly capable vehicle that will serve this country well for many years to come, and we are delighted that the Department of Defence has recognised the importance of this vehicle by reaching this milestone.

"We are proud to have been chosen to deliver this next generation of protected vehicles to our armed forces, and we stand by them ready to support and adapt it as their requirements evolve."

Thales Australia says the three-and-a-half year production phase will begin from mid-2017, with the first Hawkeis to be delivered towards the end of that year.

Take a look at the Thales Australia video below for a closer look at the Hawkei...