BUSHMASTERS HAVE ARRIVED

The first 24 Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles for the New Zealand Army have arrived at Trentham Military Camp.

“The arrival of the Bushmaster fleet represents a significant uplift in capability and protection for defence force personnel, and a milestone in the Government’s historic investment in our defence kit,” Defence Minister Andrew Little said.

A total of 43 Bushmasters which are Australian-designed and built vehicles have been purchased and will replace the New Zealand Army’s ageing armoured Pinzgauers.

Bushmasters carry more troops than the Pinzgauers and offer greater blast and ballistic protection to personnel.

They are multipurpose vehicles that can be used in New Zealand, the Pacific, and overseas in a range of missions and operations.

The Bushmaster fleet was designed specifically for New Zealand Army use. It comes in five different variants to carry out a range of tasks, including mobile communications and command hubs, troop transport, and protected ambulances.

Many of the New Zealand Defence Force’s overseas partners already use them.

The remainder of the Bushmaster vehicles will arrive in batches throughout 2023. They are being tested and certified for use at Trentham Military Camp, before being sent to their home bases.

The 43 Bushmaster vehicles in the fleet are made up of five variants: 25 troop carriers; 10 command and control; four ambulances; two for logistics, and two for maintenance support.