Production of the new Hawkei Protected Military Vehicle—Light (PMV-L) in Australia could provide 700 jobs in Victoria, according to analysis from ACIL Tasman.
Designed by Thales Australia, the Hawkei vehicle was revealed at the recent Armoured Vehicles Australia event in Canberra.
Hawkei is Thales’s contender for the Department of Defence’s LAND 121 Phase 4 program to replace Army Landrovers. The sleek 7-tonne 4×4 can carry up to six soldiers, and incorporates high levels of blast and ballistic protection.
An engineering mock-up of the Hawkei was on display at Armoured Vehicles Australia (AVA), highlighting its internal seating layout and ground-breaking design.
If the Hawkei begins production, 700 jobs would be created in and around the Bendigo area of Victoria, ACIL Tasman said.
The minister for industry and trade, Hon Martin Pakula, will inspect the new Australian-designed Hawkei vehicle this week at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre where it is currently displayed.
The economic study also found that Thales’ Bushmaster vehicle program is currently supporting 1,100 jobs, but employment will fall in coming years as orders and production decline on the original Australian Defence Force Bushmaster program.
Bushmaster is specially designed to meet the requirements of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to rapidly deploy battle ready troops in all field conditions.