Australia Ministry for Defence will deliver 10 Bushmaster 4x4 protected vehicles to Fiji 11602173

Defense & Security News - Fiji
 
Australia Ministry for Defence will deliver 10 Bushmaster 4x4 protected vehicles to Fiji.
Australian Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, February 9, 2017, welcomed the sale of 10 refurbished Australian Defence Force Bushmaster 4x4 Protected Mobility Vehicles to Fiji to support the Republic of Fiji Military Forces’ United Nations peacekeeping missions at the Golan Heights and in Syria.
     
Australian Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, February 9, 2017, welcomed the sale of 10 refurbished Australian Defence Force Bushmaster 4x4 Protected Mobility Vehicles to Fiji to support the Republic of Fiji Military Forces’ United Nations peacekeeping missions at the Golan Heights and in Syria.
Australian Army Bushmaster 4x4 protected vehicle (Soure photo Australian MoD)
     
“Fiji will use the vehicles to form part of the force protection mix that protects UN Observers in the Golan Heights and Syria, which includes Australian Defence Force personnel,” Minister Payne said.

“The sale of the Bushmasters is a significant milestone in Defence cooperation between Australia and Fiji.

“Australia and Fiji have a long and proud history of peacekeeping.

“Enhancing peacekeeping cooperation with Fiji reflects the strength of the relationship and underscores the importance of working with partners in the region.”

Minister Payne said the Bushmaster was widely recognised as one of the finest protected mobility vehicles in the world, and has saved countless Australian Defence Force lives on operation.

Bushmasters provide Australian troops with mobility and protection, including against improvised explosive devices, and I’m proud that Fiji is buying our vehicles,” she said.

“The refurbished vehicles will be overhauled, serviced, inspected and repainted to ensure they are fully operational, and reconfigured to meet Fiji’s specific requirements.”

Seven vehicles will be deployed to the Golan Heights and Syria, and three vehicles will be transported to Fiji for pre-deployment training by mid-2017.
     
Australian Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, February 9, 2017, welcomed the sale of 10 refurbished Australian Defence Force Bushmaster 4x4 Protected Mobility Vehicles to Fiji to support the Republic of Fiji Military Forces’ United Nations peacekeeping missions at the Golan Heights and in Syria.
     
The Thales Bushmaster is a highly mobile, ballistics, mine and improvised explosive device (IED) blast resistant Protected Mobility Vehicle (PMV). Bushmaster has an established family of modular armoured vehicles offering high levels of protected mobility for combat, combat support and combat service support troops across a diverse range of mission profiles including troop movement, command and control, engineer support and ambulance variants.

The Bushmaster can carried a total of 10 military personnel including driver and commander. The monocoque hull protects against the blast of land- mine and improvised explosive devices. The vehicle also offers a ballistic protection against firing of small arms. Windows also carry similar ballistic protection. The Bushmaster's fuel and hydraulic tanks are positioned outside the crew's compartment to protect troops from possible fires. There is also a protected emergency fuel tank so the vehicle won't be left stranded.

The Bushmaster 4x4 armoured vehicle is in service with Australia, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Netherlands, and United Kingdom.