Thales will deliver hundreds of next generation protected vehicles Bushmasters to the Australian armed forces

• Thales Australia today welcomed a new Australian Government commitment of AU$750 million to deliver 268 additional next generation Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles (PMVs) to be built at its Bendigo, Victoria facility.
• This investment will support the evolution of this trusted troop carrier into a next-generation agile vehicle capable of carrying troops, sensing and striking at range, while efficiently defending against battlespace threats.
• This investment expands the production of the Bushmaster, supports jobs, boosts sovereign capacity and enhances Australian manufacturing capabilities, standing ready to efficiently meet international demand.

 Thales Australia has welcomed an investment of AU$750 million from the Australian Government in sovereign defence capability and will work hand in glove with the Australian Government to deliver an additional 268 next generation Bushmaster PMVs.

 

This announcement supports over 290 jobs and provides continuity for the Thales Bendigo workforce, reinforcing the long-term future of regional advanced manufacturing.

 

This investment will enable Thales Australia to develop the next generation Bushmaster with the Australian Defence Force, strengthening the Australian Army’s capability to deal with battlefield threats.

 

Capability enhancements include improved protection and mobility, advanced digital systems, and increased adaptability to meet the evolving needs of defence operations including:

 

• Increased capacity for carrying personnel and increased tow capacity
• Stronger additional armour
• Ability to carry more powerful weapons systems, including roof mounted effectors
• Opportunity to integrate a wide range of sensors and effectors to efficiently defeat threats
• A fully modular crew cabin allowing for versatile configurations based on user needs
• Designed for export with left-hand drive capability and next-gen comms interfaces.

 

This announcement bolsters Australia’s industrial capacity, to design, build and sustain key defence assets, while ensuring a robust supply chain. Production of the next generation Bushmaster will start in 2027.

 

More than 1300 Bushmasters have been manufactured at Thales’ Bendigo facility, with the vehicle being exported to eight nations including the UK, New Zealand, the Netherlands and Japan.

 

Hervé Dammann, Executive Vice-President, Land and Air Systems, Thales declared: “Thales is honoured by the trust placed by the Australian government on our world-class multirole vehicle, Bushmaster. This major contract for the delivery of hundreds of combat-proven vehicles demonstrates how government and industry can work together to deliver what this country needs.”

 

About Thales in Australia

 

Thales in Australia is an Australian-run company like no other with enduring and unique national security, defence, tech, cyber and manufacturing capabilities that make Australia more secure and allow Thales to be the trusted partner of the nation.

 

As a trusted partner of the Australian Defence Force in the Land, Sea and Air environment, Thales Australia employs over 4,500 people in Australia at 35 sites, and supports over 2,000 jobs along its Australian supply chain.

 

About Thales

 

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services helps address several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.

 

The Group allocates €4.5 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Quantum and Cloud technologies. Thales has more than 85,000 employees in 65 countries. In 2025, the Group generated sales of €22.1 billion.