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2014-03-01
Bushmaster is a brute
“With over 800 Bushmaster variants delivered to the Australian Defence Force and the Netherlands armed forces, Bushmaster is operationally combat-proven, highly capable and affordable”
The Thales Bushmaster, a highly mobile, ballistics, mine and improvised explosive device blast-resistant protected mobility vehicle, has safeguarded and saved lives in numerous incidents during warfare.
These include offensive operations, ambushes and roadside bombings involving IED, FSP and RPG attack. It comes with a range of field upgradeable protection packages depending on the specific threat and terrain.
Bushmaster can carry up to 10 soldiers (including driver) and operate independently in remote environments. Operational deployment with Australian forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Dutch forces in Afghanistan, has successfully demonstrated the vehicle’s capabilities.
Bushmaster has an established family of modular armoured vehicles offering high levels of protected mobility for combat, combat support and combat service support troops across a diverse range of mission profiles including troop movement, command and control, engineer support, and ambulance variants.
The Bushmaster’s large internal volume within its monocoque body has open architecture that can be easily adapted to meet multi-role requirements even in the field. Externally, Bushmaster has been designed with a modular approach allowing reconfiguration, and simplicity of repair with high levels of inter-changeability between variants.
Proof of performance
With over 800 Bushmaster variants delivered to the Australian Defence Force and the Netherlands armed forces, Bushmaster is operationally combat-proven, highly capable and affordable. It offers greatly enhanced protection, mobility, mission performance, reliability, mission flexibility and operational sustainability.
Jamaica buys 12 Bushmasters
Indeed, Jamaica recently bought 12 Bushmasters. The vehicles are all troop carrier variants equipped with Thales’s SOTAS M2 communication system, and deliveries start next year. The contract also includes a five-year support package. The Bushmasters are ideally suited for both internal security and humanitarian operations. The inclusion of the support package demonstrates the customer’s trust in Thales to deliver and maintain an effective capability over several years.
Design and Protection
Bushmaster provides a unique level of protection and survivability through its mobility, monocoque, vee-shaped armoured hull, and passive and active protection measures. The armour-protected monocoque protects against the blast of claymore, anti-tank mines, anti-personnel mines, mortars, improvised explosive devices and has a range of ballistic protection kits. The shaped hull deflects the blast.
Wire cutters are installed on the roof on both sides of the vehicle to protect soldiers exposed above the roofline. The fuel and hydraulic tanks are located outside the crew compartments to minimise fire risk.
A 270l drinking-water tank is installed under the floor of the crew compartment, contributing to crew safety in the event of a landmine explosion. The armour protected seating provides additional protection against spinal injuries.
Bushmaster offers the following range of protection:
- Range of ballistic protection against multiple hits from ballistic projectiles and shell fragments to the occupant and engine power pack compartments
- Significant mine blast protection anywhere under vehicle including wheel stations
- Protection against fragment shaped projectiles and side blasts from improvised explosive devices
- Space-to-mount NBC system
- Space to mount and operate a remote weapon station
- Field upgradability and retrofit ability are key design requirements of protection system kits.
- Additional armour can be mounted to the hull of the vehicle.
Supportability
Thales offers a range of program support tailored to meet the exact requirement of the customer and includes administration of logistic support contracts, management of logistic support arrangements, and provision of user and technical documentation for its entire fleet.
This may also include embedding field service representatives into forward placed units, based on a high level of major commercial off the shelf components. In theatre, operational logistic support is provided via an extensive global network of service entries and field service representatives.
This includes the supply of maintenance parts and provision of on-site support, including 24/7 technical advice and engineering support.
Bushmaster is unique with its four coil independent suspension system that can move quickly over long distances by road and manoeuvre at speed across country.
It has a high power to weight ratio; sustained highway speed of over 100 kp/h full-time four wheel drive; selectable differential locks front, centre and rear; high ground clearance and wheel size combined with a push-button controlled central tyre inflation system; critical angles for off-road mobility; and optional run flat tyre inserts to ensure mobility, even with damaged tyres.
Flexibility
The Bushmaster’s large internal volume within its monocoque body has open architecture that can be easily adapted to meet multi-role requirements even in the field. Externally, Bushmaster’s FOV have been designed with a modular approach allowing reconfiguration, and simplicity of repair with high levels of interchangeability between variants.
The vehicle’s unique long-life monocoque-armoured hull, combined with globally available and sustainable commercial off-the-shelf driveline components, result in high reliability and availability. It also brings about, low operating cost per mile and low lifecycle costs.
Variants
In 2008, Thales launched the Bushmaster single cab armoured combat support vehicle. This variant can carry 4,000kg load on its rear tray and has a cruising speed of 100km/h and maximum range of 800km.
In 2009 an additional variant was added to the range – a dual cab that has been down-selected for the UK MoD’s operational utility vehicle systems requirement.
The Bushmaster family of vehicles is available in a range of variants including troop transport, ambulance, direct fire, mortar, engineer and command for application in combat and combat support roles. They share a high level of commonality which reduces the training and logistics footprint.
- Bushmaster ambulance - protected patient transport and medical support vehicle
- Bushmaster dual cab - cargo area at the rear of the chassis
- Bushmaster ISTAR - intelligence surveillance target acquisition and reconnaissance vehicle
- Bushmaster IED - detection and road cleaning vehicle against IED Bushmaster single cab - cargo area at the rear of the chassis, utility variant vehicle
- Bushmaster Fire King - purpose-built fire-fighting vehicle. It offers the world’s only crew survival module in the event of the vehicle being engulfed in flames, plus unrivalled protection and mobility compared to commercial fire fighting vehicles
Weapon mounts
There are up to three weapon mounts for Bushmaster including one remote weapon station. The main gun ring or RWS is capable of mounting 12.7 mm machine guns or 40 mm AGLs.
Armament
The standard Thales Bushmaster is equipped with a remote weapon station, armed with a 5.56 mm or 12.7 mm machine gun. A light cannon can also be fitted. The ballistic protected windows can be fitted with optional shooting ports. The Bushmaster can be also armed with three pintle mounted system for 5.56 mm or 7.62 mm machine guns. Lockers can be replaced with additional ammunition and arms or fuel and water tanks to extend the operational radius. The crew seating can be reconfigured to accommodate operational requirements.
Propulsion
The Bushmaster is motorised with a Caterpillar turbocharged six-cylinder engine which produces up to 300hp at 2,400rpm. It provides a power-to-weight ratio of 16kW/t and governed maximum cruise speed of 100km/h. The engine is coupled to a transmission system providing six forward speeds, one reverse and convertor lock-up.
Bushmaster cabin
The cabin, with 1,415mm headroom, is fitted with eight face-to-face ergonomically-designed seats with full four-point harness seat belts. There is a personal weapons storage area, mission equipment storage, radio suite intercom and split air-conditioning system to each seat.
The cabin is fitted with three roof hatches with locking handles to provide protection against ambush and an alternative escape route. The vehicle is transportable in C-130 Hercules aircraft for rapid deployment in forward areas of operation.
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