IAV 2018: Thales Bushmaster MR6 debut

Shaun Connors talks to Paul Harris, Director, Protected Vehicles at Thales about this new Bushmaster MR6 variant.

[@rawpotatofella9654]

And to think it almost got scrapped because of lack of funding. That’s why this country’s defence industry needs more innovation, funding and personnel to meet Australia’s future challenges.

[@osamaalafghanee8868]

Good on you Australia,for making your own stuff.

[@alexlanning712]

Thanks, friend?

[@yakidin63]

Saved a lot of Australian and Dutch lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. The British SAS have 30 of these so they must have a good opinion of these vehicles. Why other countries don't use it is beyond me.

[@elvinsmatthew]

the americans,canadians and french almost got some even in failure that is a hell of a achievement. biggest thing working against it would be cost. you know what us aussies are like with wages, penalties etc. makes it hard to compete.

[@paulbaker9277]

@@elvinsmatthew Yes, but these would mostly be under military manufacture so price would not be the same I would expect, however ,I stand corrected if they are not , compared to a pure civilian made vehicle. , and also, Australia is trying to build export markets across the board so I think they would competitive.

[@joemcmanus3585]

The USA of course. They have the Oshkosh M-ATV so it is very easy to place trade and military support conditions on countries to force them to buy the US military gear. Not saying that the Oshkosh M-ATV is a bad vehicle, but it that's not the reason why it outsells the Bushmaster basically 100:1

[@montys420-]

The reason why the u.s didnt buy them was because we wouldnt sell them the patant the jsdf and the dutch use them plus poland are going to select them most likely

[@urmumisaho69]

The US actually used a small quantity in Iraq. Mates deployed there often seen, US special forces operating a few. (I’d imagine they just borrowed them for certain missions/joint missions with aus special forces) sorry I don’t have much more detail.

[@markjmaxwell9819]

This latest version is awesome Still a match for any vehicle of a similar type in the world. 😮😮😮😮😉

[@darthmorpheus9603]

Best light apc in the world.

[@SuperSpannerX1]

Awesome :)

[@1moderntalking1]

It would be useful in parts of Africa. Love to see a 6 wheel drive version! Front windscreen is asking for big fat rpg though.

[@dylanlastname1461]

Yup

[@thekaxmax]

Apparently it's RPG rated unless it's a flat-on hit. So you'd need to fire from above.

[@andrewsmall6834]

It's designed so RPGs skid right off, i have seen this with my own eyes in testing.

[@markjmaxwell9819]

Hope they do a Hybrid at some stage.

[@markjmaxwell9819]

@Evan Hart The BYD blade batteries handle all kinds of testing very well indeed including kinetic strikes and piercings. And 500km for all electric sucks .

[@regregan5755]

New Zealand has Bushmasters?? Must be the specials as have not seen any around in regular army.

[@silverfox9453]

Reg regan open your eyes, NZ ordered many of these vehicles.

[@regregan6852]

@@silverfox9453 Yea they were open 4 years ago in 2018 champ, NZ ordered these ones in 2020, you do the math genius.

[@williamoei295]

Whts t difference bushmaster n hawkei

[@regregan6852]

Size and role.

[@dylanlastname1461]

I would rather this over almost anything!!!! (especially the hawkei i hate that thing!!)

[@charlesd3a]

The Bushmaster was designed and developed by Irish company Timoney back in the mid to late 90s which was developed initially for the Irish army to be built by ADI in Australia under licence.

[@geebs1515]

Very different vehicle to the one of Irish origin. Completely re-designed when the hull shape failed mine blast testing early in the piece.

[@georgepantazis141]

No.wrong.

[@charlesd3a]

​​​@@geebs1515the Bushmaster vehicles were actually designed for the Irish Defence forces. The haul was actually similar to the one that was actually offered to the Irish Defence forces and advertised as Irish built. It was originally designed much earlier that the 90s by Timoney Technology of Ireland. 5:43

[@charlesd3a]

​@@geebs1515The Timoney engineers actually involved in the process of the Bushmaster from the beginning as all Prototyped vehicles weaknesses would be found that would be corrected throughout the process that's why they test the vehicles thoroughly before the end product for the production vase, Timoney remained the original owners of the technology used on the Bushmaster vehicles licensed out to the original licensees to the current producers and holders of the license.

[@charlesd3a]

​@@geebs1515 Timoney who redesigned the haul of the vehicles as they were the lead on the project.

[@georgepantazis141]

Australia can still make the best gear in the world.bushmaster,Hawkie ,nulla,Loyal wingman. 🇭🇲

[@thestevecbr]

they’re being sent now to Ukraine…

[@artistjoh]

There are 90 Bushmasters operating in Ukraine. President Zelensky has credited the speed of the Ukrainian counter-offensive in Kharkiv region to the speed with which the Bushmaster can move troops forward.

[@chandrachurniyogi8394]

the Thales BUSHMASTER 4X4 + 5.0 in. Lift 9.0 TDI I6 3-Dr Armoured Personnel Vehicle (RHD) seriously needs a proper xtra heavy duty 5.0 in. suspension lift & 17.0 in. beadlock aluminium alloy wheels shod with 38.0 in. mud terrain run flat radial tyres!!!

[@DaveWhoa]

they are run-flat tyres

[@regregan6852]

The higher they are the easier they fall...

[@agentmonde1]

I see flaws with the windshield and the Denel Casspir is still better in my opinion.

[@llewellRsA]

monde made South Africa pioneered this technology with then Rhodesia. It is technically old tech but it was so freaking good the world is now copying it.

[@rawpotatofella9654]

There is a number you must know. 0. ZERO. No Australians have been lost in the Bushmaster in its 17-18 years of service in Afghanistan

[@georgepantazis141]

Bullshit.🇭🇲

[@robman2095]

@@georgepantazis141 I read somewhere that around 40 vehicles in total had been hit by IEDs and that nobody had died. Do you have any specific instances where someone has died in one of these?

[@georgepantazis141]

We sold to Indonesia what.🇭🇲free west Papua

[@burt3907]

They are used in Ukraine to run away from the advancing Ruskies. Zelensky has even held on to one, for his personal use, to make his quick escape into Poland.