Chris Jenkins, Thales Australia’s CEO, said the
delivery marked a significant chapter in a rapid development
program that had made full use of the company’s
protected mobility expertise.
“The
Hawkei is an impressive vehicle that has
been developed to meet the specific operational requirements
of the Australian Defence Force,” he said. “We
have leveraged the experience gained on the highly successful
Bushmaster
program, and teamed with world-class partners including
Plasan, Boeing Defence Australia and the PAC Group, to
deliver a unique, innovative, and high performance vehicle
to the Commonwealth.
"The speed the Hawkei
team has demonstrated to develop these prototypes shows
that we have the capability to manufacture and deliver
this cost-effective and versatile vehicle in response
to urgent requirements, as Australia's only genuinely
local manufacturer of protected mobility vehicles.”
The Hawkei
is characterised by a large protected interior space for
crew, equipment and stores; four doors for easy access;
Bushmaster
levels of blast and ballistic protection; advanced technology
for rapid up-armouring in the field; and straightforward
reconfiguration between variants.
