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Background
— Armoured Patrol Vehicle Candidates — Bushmaster |
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The Bushmaster was the outcome of Australia's Project Bushranger to develop a light, mine-resistant
APC. [1] The hull form follows that of South Africa's Casspir
(a 'V'-shaped, welded-steel monocoque) but Bushmaster's design began with Timoney Technologies in Ireland.[2]
In Australian Defence Force parlance, Bushmasters are Infantry Mobility Vehicles. Others would call a
'Bushie' a small, mine-resistant APC. DND saw the Bushmaster as rather large for patrol duties.
But flexibility is built in. Bushmaster variants on offer have included: command, ambulance, mortar
carrier, and transport.
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In fine Aussie tradition, a Bushmaster 'ute' was also developed – Copperhead
or the Armoured Combat Support Vehicle, a crew- protected vehicle with a 10m2 flat bed grafted on. This has
implications for TAPV although irrelevant to the actual APV
contest
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The Bushmaster hull will withstand blast from two TM-57 anti-tank mines (equiva- lent to 19kg of TNT) and has
been tested extensively. Bushmaster production was slow getting underway but deliveries to the ADF were being
made well before the APV contest. The Bushmaster's entry in that contest ( backed by Thales Canada ) appears to
have surprised DND planners but, a greater size aside, the 'Bushie' did meet APV requirements.
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ADI Bushmaster Infantry
Mobility Vehicle — Specifications
| Complement: |
1+10 as troop carrier / 1+4 for patrol |
Powerplant:
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245 kW (330 hp) Caterpillar 3126B 6 cylinder
turbo diesel (Detroit Diesel ) |
| Transmission: |
8-speed (7+1) automatic ZF 7HP500 |
| Max speed: |
120 km/h / 0-80 km/h 25 seconds |
Protection:
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(ballistic) 7.62x39mm AK, 5.56x45mm NATO
(landmine) single TM-57 / anti-personnel |
| Usable payload: |
1600 kg (usable payload) |
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Despite its virtues and flexibility, Thales Canada reportedly pulled the Bushmaster IMV from the
CF APV contest at the last moment. Size was likely the key objection. The ADF chose its
Bushmaster to fit between jeeps and the ASLAV (the Aussie Coyote or Bison). CF APVs fill a
different slot but there may be room, in the future, for a CF Bushmaster-sized mine-protected vehicle. [3]
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[1] Project Bushranger was also known at LAND 116. Bushmasters were up against the ASVS Taipan
(a Reumech Mamba derivative) and BAeA Foxhound ( Short S600 ). The ADF would eventually order
737 Bushmasters in seven variants for the Australian Army and RAAF.
[2] Timoney's MP44 design was the basis for the Bushmaster (which still uses Timoney suspensions). The
Bushmaster was presented for LAND 116 by Perry Engineering (with US Stewart & Stevenson) which became
Australian Defence Industries and then Thales Australia.
[3] These include logistics, combat engineer, mineclearing, and weapons carrier variants (the last 3 types
based on the 'flat-deck' ACSV). Under their LAND 116 program, the ADF have ordered another 143 improved
Bushmaster IMVs to be delivered by 2008. The ADF Bushie was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in 2005.
Dutch army Bushmasters (an IOR purchase) have been in Afghanistan since October 2006.
[3] It has been suggested elsewhere that the Bushmaster would make a good mine-protected gun tractor to
replace withdrawn CF AVGPs.
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