Country of origin |
Australia |
Entered service |
2004 |
Crew |
2 men |
Personnel |
7 / 10 men |
Dimensions and weight |
Weight |
14 t |
Length |
6.6 m |
Width |
2.5
m |
Height |
2.65 m |
Armament |
Machine guns |
1 x 5.56 mm or 7.62 mm |
Ammunition load |
Machine guns |
1 000 rounds |
Mobility |
Engine |
Caterpillar 3126 ATAAC diesel |
Engine power |
300 hp |
Maximum road speed |
over 120 km/h |
Range |
about 1 000 km |
Maneuverability |
Gradient |
60% |
Side slope |
40% |
Vertical step |
0.44 m |
Trench |
~ 0.5 m |
Fording |
1.2 m |
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The
Bushmaster mine resistant ambush protected vehicle is produced by ADI Limited (now
Thales Australia). It is named after a deadly pit viper. It is referred by manufacturer as the Infantry
Mobility Vehicle (IMV). It entered service with Australian Army and
Royal Australian Air Forces in 2004. Australia operates over 1 000
Bushmasters of all variants. It also ordered additional 143 vehicles
for delivery in 2009. In 2006 Netherlands acquired 37 of these MRAPs.
It is also in service with United Kingdom. Jamaica ordered 12 of
these vehicles, Japan 4 and Indonesia 3. By 2013 over 1 000
Bushmasters have been produced. By its type the Bushmaster is a mine resistant and ambush protected
vehicle, that has proved itself in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Hull of the
Bushmaster is of all welded steel armor. It provides protection
against small arms fire and shell splinters. The Bushmaster IMV
provides better protection against land mine threats in modern
conflicts, than conventional up-armored light utility vehicles, such
as uparmored
HUMMWVs,
G-Wagens and
Land Rovers. It
provides high-level protection against mines and improvised
explosive devices. Optional armor kit can be fitted, which provides
protection against 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm armor-piercing rounds.
A 7.62 mm or
5.56 mm machine gun can be mounted on the roof of the vehicle.
Remotely controlled weapon systems were ordered to upgrade some
existing Australian vehicles. A 12.7 mm machine gun or 40 mm
automatic grenade launcher can be fitted. Overall design of the Bushmaser allows to accommodate a small turret-mounted cannon.
The
Busmaster MRAP has a crew of two and can carry
7 troops. Variant of this vehicle used by the Royal Australian Air
Force can carry 10 troops. Troops enter and leave the vehicle via a
large door in the hull rear or roof hatches. There are a number of
firing ports for the occupants.
This mine
resistant ambush protected vehicle is powered by the Caterpillar 3126 ATAAC
turbocharged diesel engine, developing 300 horsepower. It has a
maximum speed of 120 km/h and operational range of about 1 000 km.
Vehicle is fitted with a hydraulically operated 10 tone winch and
central tyre inflation system. The Bushmaster is not amphibious.
Variants
Armored
personnel carrier.
Command
vehicle.
Assault
pioneer vehicle.
Mortar
carrier.
Direct fire
weapons vehicle.
Ambulance.
Cargo
vehicle.
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