The New Generation Protected Tactical Vehicle
Thales is delivering a new generation of protected vehicle. The Hawkei meets the requirements of the modern defence force for a highly protected, versatile and fully C4I integrated vehicle able to operate in high threat environments.
Hawkei reached an important milestone in July 2021 with the Australian Department of Defence granting approval of Initial Operational Capability under the Project Land 121 Phase 4.
“The Hawkei is expected to reach Full Operational Capability in 2023 and is joining the existing Bushmaster and Protected Medium Heavy Capability trucks to create a suite of protected mobility vehicles. The new fleet of lighter vehicles…..will better protect ADF personnel from blast and ballistic threats.”
Minister for Defence the Hon Peter Dutton MP
Class leading protection, mobility and payload
Hawkei is in Full Rate Production at the Thales vehicle manufacturing facility in Bendigo, Victoria, delivering 10 vehicles per week. Thales will deliver a total of 1,100 Hawkeis to the Australian Defence Force, in both 2-door and 4-door configurations, the largest single program of its type outside the USA.
Hawkei provides a balance of class-leading protection and mobility with the payload and power to offer Defence a truly multi-role platform with advanced C4I capabilities leveraging our unique open-architecture ASGVA-compliant Integral Computing System.
The Hawkei platform can be integrated with a wide portfolio of mission systems, delivered as “capability packages”, to allow Hawkei to fulfill an exciting range of current and future defence requirements.
Hawkei is readily deployable by land, sea and air and will bring new capabilities to the Australian Defence Force across a diverse range of mission profiles.
Hawkei in the light cavalry role will add another string to our bow in terms of what the capability can do. We’ve got a bunch of units out there in the Reserve brigades that can take the vehicle and harness it and add extra capabilities inside Army’s suite of options. So we’re really excited about what 13 Brigade’s about to do with this platform ...
Army Headquarter’s Director General – Platforms, Brigadier Jeremy King
The Hawkei vehicle is produced by Thales Australia. It is the first vehicle that I am aware of—possibly the first vehicle in the world—that is built to be digitally wired in the same conceptual fashion as you see in the wiring of a modern aircraft glass co*ckpit ...
Testimony from Lt Gen. Campbell
The Hawkei will improve protection for soldiers and enable them to operate in high-risk areas. It is the only protected mobility vehicle in the ADF that can be transported by ADF helicopters ...
Confirmed by Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, in 2015
Designed and built in Australia
Hawkei is built by Thales in Bendigo, Victoria, with production supported by many Australian suppliers.
“Hawkei has been designed and built in Australia by Thales Australia, which supports Australian jobs and Australian service personnel.”
Minister for Defence Industry the Hon Melissa Price
Find out more about our SMEs supporting Hawkei
Redarc Electronics
In this SME Spotlight we talked to Anthony Kittel, CEO and Managing Director of Redarc Electronics
Advanced Braking Technology
Advanced Braking Technology, based in Perth Western Australia, are industry leaders in the provision of braking solutions. Their Australian designed, developed and manufactured world-leading system ‘FailSafe’, is the only one of its kind.
Dolphin Products
Dolphin Products, based in Heidelberg West Victoria, are industry leaders in injection moulding and tooling of complex plastics products.
Lifetime support in Australia
From its Vehicle Integration and Through Life Capability Support Centre in Eagle Farm, Queensland, Thales already supports over 1,200 Bushmaster Protected Vehicles for the Australian Defence Force and seven International Defence Forces around the world. Thales ensures on-going capability to defence customers through the delivery of maintenance, spares and engineering services,Customer Urgent Operational Requirements, full C4I design and integration upgrades and even upgrades to new mission variants.
As 1,100 Hawkei vehicles enter service with the ADF, they will be fully supported by Thales, in Australia.
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