Australia seeks costing info for new armored vehicles

CANBERRA, Australia, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- The Australian Department of Defense is conducting an open Request for Information to gauge the cost of a new infantry fighting vehicle.

The tracked and turreted vehicle will be for the country's LAND 400 Phase 3 Mounted Close Combat Capability requirement -- a next generation of armored fighting vehicle with sensors, weapons and information systems in a collaborative network.

The vehicles would eventually replace Australia's light armored vehicles and M113 armored personnel carriers and would have complementary characteristics to the in-service M1A1 Abrams main battle tank, the Department of Defense said.

The project will also provide specialist support vehicle.

A number of meetings between the Department of Defense officials and industry representatives have been scheduled to discuss the RFI.