Thread: Ex-Army Unimogs. Any news on what's become of them?

Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

hope youve got big a driveway, theyre a bit bigger than seem to appear.....I have recently seen heaps of them out this way still in service so maybe theyre only selling the old ones.

Yeah - we have plenty of space - about 40 acres - so parking it won't be an issue, and yes they are a big bit of kit. I have only driven one (which whas pretty easy actually) but my overriding impression was how huge they are compared to a 130: U1700L Unimog in the flesh - HUGE

Originally Posted by landy

G-Wagon is dead! We're getting Hawkei. Thales has been asked to resubmit for phase two testing. I have heard this from a guy thats on the project.

The replacement of the Landies is both vehicles, G/W and Hawkei.

Why doesn't the ADF get the BAE RG31 and get done with it?

Originally Posted by jakeslouw

Why doesn't the ADF get the BAE RG31 and get done with it?

As far as I know you are talking about a different class of vehicle and I believe we already have something that does the same general function of the BAE RG31.

Originally Posted by jakeslouw

Why doesn't the ADF get the BAE RG31 and get done with it?

Because we already have the Australian built Thales Bushmaster.



More than that the Hawkei is to replace smaller vehicles like Land Rovers.

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

Sounds reasonable.
I would expect they would keep them until the replacements have arrived and all the bugs ironed out.
Could take years.

Actually, they buy of G-Wagons, or the "Light Lightweight vehicle" was divided into two buys, an Operational fleet, and a training fleet. The Op fleet was for deplyment only. The training fleet was to enable collective training with a "similar capability". I do believe that common sense prevailed, and that the training fleet will also be G-wagons....but likely at a lower (cheaper) spec. This second buy will be later. (Its already happenend, but delivery is later). Therefore, you will still see the perenties around for a while, but they will be replaced.

Unimogs will be around for a while. MAN is the preferred tenderer for the mdium and heavy weaight vehicles (over Mercedes as the other bidder), but they were a long way short of performance in a few areas....im tipping that contract will take a while to sort itself out.....and the delivery of vehicles to have lots of problems, as the cheaper bidder upgrades the vehicle to meet the users expectation.....costing more than the mercedes in the end, which already met the spec.

Originally Posted by juddy

And it also looks like the Special Forces are getting the Jackal as part of project REDFIN from the UK...

As long as Jackal is the name for the australian version of the supacat.....cause thats what is coming.

Originally Posted by easo

The replacement of the Landies is both vehicles, G/W and Hawkei.

Yes sort of, the hawkei is not a done deal yet..... the upcoming Phase 4 (protected vehicle buy)is hotly contested and has not been tendered yet. Other contenders are General Dynamics Land Systems Eagle IV and the Ocelot.

Not forgetting that Defence has already sunk millions into the US JLTV Program (similar capability, but different), in a similar manner to our now infamous participation in the F-35 program.

Thales has been given some money, and are crowing therefore that they are going to win, because they successfully politically lobbied that it was unfair to give the US millions to do a development (JLTV), and not give an "Australian" company the same support and opprtunity. DOnt get me started on how "Australian" Thales is....but their factory is in a marginal seat that swings nearly every election....they are VERY good at this. The factory is threatened with closure frequently.

In a recent competition in the UK, the Ocelot won. Im pretty sure there are you tube videos on it.

SO, what will happen, is that government will be given options for a decision, for Phase 4. The Foreign Military Sale (FMS) Option will be whatever wins JLTV. Another option will be a locall sourced comercial vehiclle, being the competition describe above. Then its all up to politics....in an environment whereby we ARE going to be in surplus buy 12/13.

The quote is kind of right though...there was a bucket of money to possibly buy "protected g wagons"....but i think this was stopped and rolled into Phase 4.