Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle

Bushmaster
A Dutch Army Bushmaster in 2008. This vehicle has been fitted with a remote weapons station.
Type	4x4 MRAP Cat. II
Place of origin	Australia
Service history
In service	1997 – present
Used by	Users
Wars	East Timor War in Afghanistan Iraq War Northern Mali conflict
Production history
Designer	Thales Australia (formerly ADI)
Manufacturer	Thales Australia (formerly ADI)
Unit cost	$500,000
No. built	1,072
Variants	Troop, Command, Ambulance, IED, Utility
Specifications
Weight	11,400 kg (25,133 lb) (kerb) 15,400 kg (33,951 lb) (GVM)
Length	7,180 mm
Width	2,480 mm
Height	2,650 mm
Crew	1 (driver), 9 (passengers)
Armor	ballistic exceeds STANAG 4569 level 1 – standard ballistic up to STANAG 4569 level 3 – option FSP up to STANAG 4569 level 5 – option IED high level of protection from monocoque hull – standard mine exceeds STANAG 4569 level 3 – standard
Main armament	Remote weapon station up to 12.7mm HMG or 40mm AGM launcher, or manned open turrent up to 12.7mm HMG or 40mm AGM launcher
Secondary armament	Manned swing mounts up to 7.62mm (one front and two rear)
Engine	Caterpillar 3126E 7.2L six-cylinder diesel, turbocharged 224 kW (300 hp) @ 2,200rpm 1,166 N·m (860 lb·ft) @ 1,440rpm
Power/weight	26.4 hp/tonne
Transmission	ZF 6HP502 ECOMAT G2 (six forward speeds, one reverse)
Suspension	Arvin Meritor 4000 series fully independent, progressive coil spring with upper control arm and lower wishbone
Ground clearance	1,340 mm (front overhang) 1,950 mm (rear overhang) 40° (approach angle) 38° (departure angle) 108° (ramp over angle) 60% (gradient) 36° (side slope) 460 mm (vertical obstacle) 1,200 mm (fording, unprepared)
Fuel capacity	319 L (84 U.S. gal)
Operational range	800 km (497 mi)
Speed	100km/h (governed)
Steering system	Power assisted

The Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle or Infantry Mobility Vehicle is an Australian-built four wheeled, all-wheel drive armoured vehicle. The Bushmaster is produced by Thales Australia and Oshkosh Truck has a contract to provide support and would manufacture in the US if there were an American order. The Bushmaster is currently in service with the Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Netherlands Army, British Army and the Jamaica Defence Force.

The role of the Bushmaster is to provide protected mobility transport (or protected troop lift capability), with infantry dismounting from the vehicle before going into action. As the Bushmaster is only lightly armoured, the term Infantry Mobility Vehicle (IMV) was initially adopted to distinguish it from a heavier wheeled or tracked armoured personnel carrier, such as the ASLAV and M113 also in Australian service. Later the Bushmaster's designation was changed to Protected Mobility Vehicle (PMV).

The 1991 Defence Force Structure Review identified the Australian Army need for an Infantry Mobility Vehicle (IMV). The 1994 White Paper stated that new land force vehicles would be acquired. Project Bushranger (Land 116) was created to procure both protected and unprotected vehicles. The Infantry Improvised Mobility Vehicle (IIMV), a fleet of unarmoured Land Rover Perentie vehicles, were purchased from November 1993 to fill the IMV role until it entered service. In February 1994, the draft specification for the IMV was released, followed in July by the invitation to register interest with 17 proposals received including by Australian company Perry Engineering with the Bushmaster and by Australian Specialised Vehicle System with the Taipan derived from the South African Mamba. In September 1995, the request for tender was issued to 5 shortlisted proposals and in January 1997 due to withdrawals the Bushmaster and Taipan remained the only bidders.