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Australia orders Hawkei 4x4 vehicles

Australia's military has ordered Hawkei protected military vehicles from Thales Australia.

By Richard Tomkins
A Hawkei military vehicle by Thales Australia. Photo by Mark-D.
A Hawkei military vehicle by Thales Australia. Photo by Mark-D.

CANBERRA, Australia, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- Australia's Department of Defense has signed a contact with Thales Australia to build and support 1,100 Hawkei protected vehicles and their companion trailers.

The contract for the vehicles that are expected to begin rolling off the assembly line next year is worth with more than $950 million.

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The Hawkei is a 4x4 high mobility vehicle that can be transported by helicopter. It has a maximum speed of nearly 80.8 miles per hour and an operational range of 373 miles.

The Department of Defense says the Hawkei is half the weight -- 15,432 pounds – than Bushmaster vehicles currently in use.

The vehicles will be constructed at the Thales Australia factory in Bendigo, in the State of Victoria and part of Australia's Project LAND 121 Phase 4 modernization plan.

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