The Australian Army’s biggest acquisition ever has reached a significant milestone with six prototype test-and-evaluation vehicles from the project’s two shortlisted tenderers ready to rumble...
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Project LAND 400 Phase 3, valued at up to $27billion will provide the Army with an advanced infantry-fighting-vehicle capability. South Korean company Hanwha and Germany’s Rheinmetall have each delivered three prototype vehicles, through their Australian subsidiaries, for test and evaluation, to see which offering will ultimately be issued to the Army. Two vehicles from each company will be driven and used by soldiers for the next year or more, in as many different environments as a possible, while the third of each vehicle type will be subjected to various ballistics and blast tests – to ultimate destruction. Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds said the delivery of the prototype vehicles was a crucial step in the project, allowing Defence to assess the shortlisted tenderers’ performance claims, focusing on the areas of highest technical risk. “These significant activities include Australian soldiers participating in user evaluation and testing, with a particular focus on the armour, firepower and mobility of the platforms,” Minister Reynolds said. “The risk mitigation activity will undertake important analysis on each vehicle’s ability to integrate with other key ADF land, sea and air capabilities, including amphibious lift.
