The Australian Department of Defense (DoD) announced on July 11 that the independently designed and manufactured 4×4 Hawkei Protected Mobility Vehicle-Light (PMV-L) has achieved initial operational capability (IOC).
Secretary of Defense Peter Dutton stated that the A$2 billion project will enable 1,100 Hawkei vehicles and 1,058 supporting trailers produced by Thales Australia to be delivered to the Australian Army and Air Force, noting that these new vehicles Will provide better mobility and provide a high level of protection against explosion and ballistic threats.
“Hawkei is expected to reach full combat capability (FOC) in 2023 and create a protected set of motor vehicles with the existing Bushmaster and protected medium and heavy trucks,” Dutton said, adding that the 7-ton vehicle Heavy vehicles will complement Bushmasters in service and protected medium and heavy trucks to create a “protected motor vehicle kit.”
The new vehicle is being produced at the Thales Protected Vehicles plant in Bendigo, Victoria. It will replace most of the Australian Army’s Land Rover fleet and will be responsible for command, liaison, reconnaissance and utility roles.
The Ministry of Defense announced in September 2020 that after good results in comprehensive ballistic and explosive tests, full-rate production of the Hawke missile will begin in mid-2021. It is understood that this is about 50 vehicles per month.
“The Ministry of Defence and Thales Australia have resolved the braking problem discovered at the end of 2020 and launched a technical solution in the Hawkei fleet,” said the Ministry of Defence. “Through proper control, the Department of Defense lifted Hokai’s operational restrictions, allowing full-speed production and capability rollout to resume.”
In addition to brake defects, the Hawkei plan also faced early delays due to reliability and design issues. After the Austria-based company entered bankruptcy proceedings in February 2019, Thales acquired the troubled Hawkei engine manufacturer Steyr Motors, thereby jeopardizing the project’s engine supply.
Xiao Wu
