TSAMTO, September 30. The Ministry of Defense of New Zealand announced the start of production of armored vehicles "Bushmaster" for the Armed Forces of the country at the company Thales Australia in Bendigo (pcs.Victoria, Australia).
As stated, 43 armored vehicles ordered by the Government at the request of the Armed Forces will provide high protection for the personnel of the New Zealand Ground Forces from explosions and small arms fire. Delivery of the first bUshmaster BBM is scheduled for the end of 2022, and the contract will be fully executed in 2023. The bUshmaster BBM will replace the Pinzhauer vehicles that are in service. The estimated service life of armored vehicles ordered in five different versions will be 30 years.
Representatives of the Armed Forces of New Zealand, together with Thales Australia, worked on adapting the basic version of the bUshmaster, taking into account their specific requirements. The delivered machines will be made in the version "bUshmaster NZ5.5".
As reported by TSAMTO, in July 2020, the New Zealand government approved financing for the purchase of 43 bUshmaster armored vehicles with a 4x4 wheel formula to replace the Pinzhauer BBM, which are in service with the New Zealand Armed Forces.
Budget in the amount of 102.9 million novoz. US$ 67.5 million will allow for the supply of armored vehicles, a simulator, auxiliary equipment, training of personnel and infrastructure modernization at the Linton Camp. It is expected that deliveries of BBM will begin at the end of 2022 and will be completed by the end of 2023.
The vehicles are planned to be used for the transportation of troops, as a control vehicle, communications vehicle, ambulance, as well as in the aftermath of natural disasters and in joint peacekeeping operations.
"bUshmaster NZ5.5" is a multi-purpose armored vehicle with a 4x4 wheel formula. The combat weight of the vehicle is 15.4 tons, carrying capacity is 5 tons, length is 7.18 m, width is 2.48 m, height is 2.65 m, maximum speed is 100 km / h. The BBM is designed to carry a crew of 10 people. The body of an armored car with a V-shaped bottom provides protection from small arms fire, fragments and an explosive wave. A rotary turret or a remotely controlled weapon module can be used as a weapon.
The bUshmaster BBM has been adopted by the Armed Forces of Australia, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Japan, Jamaica, Fiji, Indonesia, and is also used by the special operations forces of New Zealand.
According to Jane's Defense Weekly, there are currently 321 Pinzhauer vehicles in service with the New Zealand Armed Forces, the first of which were delivered in 2004. About 60 units of them are made in an armored version.