Hawkei

Hawkei

A Hawkei protected mobility vehicle on display at the 2014 ADFA open day
Type Four-wheeled armoured car
Place of origin Australia
Production history
Designer Thales, Boeing Australia, Plasan
Designed Commenced early 2010
Manufacturer Thales Australia
Produced Expected early 2016
Variants Command, Liaison, Special Operations, Border Protection, Utility
Specifications
Weight 7,000 kg (15,432 lb) (kerb),
10,000 kg (22,046 lb) (GVM)
Length 5,780mm
Width 2,396mm
Height 2,300mm
Crew Generally 4 to 6
Armor Greater than STANAG 4569, Level 1. Additional Applique armour provided by Plasan composite and V-shaped monocoque hull
Main
armament
 Gun ring for up to a heavy crew-served weapon
Engine Steyr M16 six-cylinder diesel, turbocharged.
200 kW (268 hp) @ 4,000rpm
610 N·m (450 lb·ft) @ 2,000rpm
Transmission ZF 6HP280, six-speed automatic
Suspension AxleTech 3000, fully independent, coil and double wishbone
Fuel capacity 200 L (53 U.S. gal)
Operational
range
 600 km (373 mi)
Speed 130km/h (max)
100km/h (governed)
Steering
system
 Power rack and pinion

The Hawkei PMV is a light 4 x 4 protected mobility vehicle originally designed to meet an Australian Defence Force (ADF) requirement for a light armoured patrol vehicle to replace some of its Land Rover Perentie variants. The Hawkei is a highly mobile, highly protected, 7-tonne vehicle, with in-built systems to allow it to be used as a fighting platform. It has been developed with Vehicle Electronic Architecture to be mission system ready.[1] Prime contractors include: Thales Australia, Boeing Australia, Plasan (Israel) and PAC Group. In October 2015, the Australian Government announced the purchase of 1,100 Hawkeis from Thales Australia.

History

As part of a wider project to replace the ADF's fleet of operational support vehicles, Project Land 121 Phase 4 – Protected Mobility Vehicle (Light) or PMV-L, is a requirement for up to 1,300 specialised light armoured vehicles replace some of the in-service Land Rovers. Key criteria for the project included: off-road mobility, integrated vehicle electronic architecture, substantial payloads, high levels of protection against land mines, improvised explosive devices and ballistic weapons while being light enough to be air transported by military helicopters. The three options considered as part of the project were:

Competitors for the MSA option included the combat proven MOWAG Eagle IV from General Dynamics Land Systems; the British military then selected Ocelot from Force Protection; and the Hawkei offering from Thales Australia. The JTLV option included entries from BAE Systems/Navistar,[4] AM General/General Dynamics[5] and Lockheed Martin.[6]

In December 2011 the Australian Department of Defence announced Hawkei as the preferred vehicle for further development and testing under the MSA option.[1]

In October 2015, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Minister for Defence Marise Payne announced the purchase of 1,100 Hawkeis and 1,000 trailers at a cost of $1.3 billion.[7]

Variants

All variants use the same four wheeled platform.

Command

Dual cab manned by a crew of four to six, weapons system options including up to 12.7mm guns or 40mm grenade systems in various mounts with a remote operated option.

Border Protection

Dual cab manned by a crew of four to six, various equipment options including force protection radar, surveillance and communications systems.

Special Operations Vehicle

Dual cab manned by a crew of four to six with up to three weapon systems:

Utility

Single-extended cab with a flat-bed cargo area measuring; L: 2,000 mm (79 in) x W: 2,400 mm (94 in). The vehicle is manned by a crew of 2-3 and has a kerb weight of 6,800 kg (14,991 lb) with a rated cargo load of 3,000 kg (6,614 lb). The load bed is designed to accommodate four 1000mm × 1200mm (40" x 48") NATO standard military pallets or a single tricon (one-third ISO 20 ft) container.

Etymology

The Hawkei is named after Acanthophis hawkei,[8] a species of death adder. In turn, the snake is named after former Prime Minister of Australia Bob Hawke.[9]

Users

 Australia

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Thales Hawkei Receives Contract for Further Development". Deagel.com. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  2. ↑ "Oshkosh Beats Lockheed, AM General For Historic JLTV Win". Breaking Defense. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Defence Materiel Organisation– Defence Capability Plan (Public Version Aug 2011)". Department of Defence. August 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  4. ↑ "BAE Systems – Navistar Defense – ArvinMeritor Team Delivers Australian Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Prototypes". BAE Systems/Navistar Press Release. Business Wire. June 21, 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2012. BAE Systems, through its U.S. Combat Systems business, along with partners Navistar Defense and ArvinMeritor, delivered three right hand drive operation configured Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) prototypes in a ceremony today in West Point, Mississippi. Each of these prototypes will be sent to Australia for durability testing that mutually supports both U.S. and Australia interests.
  5. ↑ "GTV Delivers Right-Hand Operation JLTV Technology Development Vehicles on Schedule". Press Release. General Tactical Vehicles. July 20, 2010. Retrieved 14 March 2012. Test and evaluation of the RHO JLTVs includes a five-month reliability and durability test and evaluation process at the Monegeetta Proving Ground in Monegeetta, Victoria, Australia. Test site management for GTV will be performed by General Dynamics Land Systems-Australia and supported by Australian in-country suppliers.
  6. ↑ "Lockheed Martin Delivers Right Hand Operation JLTV Technology Development Vehicles To U.S. Government For Testing". Press Release. Lockheed Martin. June 23, 2010. Retrieved 14 March 2012. Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] today delivered two right hand operation Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV), and a companion trailer, to the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps and representatives of the Australian Army for Technology Development (TD) phase assessment and testing .... The two variants included a JLTV Category B Command and Control on the Move and a Category C Utility vehicle, which is designed with a focus on payload. All vehicles feature right hand operation, but are otherwise identical to the U.S. vehicles.
  7. ↑ "Hawkei: Army to spend $1.3 billion on Australian-made replacement for ageing Land Rover fleet". ABC News. 5 October 2015.
  8. ↑ "Hawkei’s genesis: protection, mobility & performance". Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  9. ↑ Wells; Wellington (1985). "A classification of the Amphibia and Reptilia of Australia" (PDF): 43. Retrieved 8 September 2015.

External links

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