The Australian defense ministry has awarded Bale Defence an A$8.47 million contract to deliver the next generation of rough terrain vehicles for the Australian defense forces.
Minister for defense industry Melissa Price said the contract with the company to build 40 vehicles would create six new jobs in Port Macquarie and support the ongoing employment of another 18 Australian workers.
Bale Defence also delivered the first generation of rough terrain vehicles to the ADF, having delivered the first of the vehicles to the forces in 2014.
It has now been selected to supply the next generation of vehicles after the defense ministry released a request for tender for the capability in July 2019. Back then, the ministry said it wanted to buy 40 RTV2 platforms, with the option of buying up to 30 additional units.
“The rough terrain vehicle provides an important tactical, light, all-terrain land capability used by the ADF on operations and exercises both in Australia and overseas,” Minister Price said.
The first generation of rough terrain vehicles was designed to enhance the Australian special operations forces capability, providing a range of options with flexible load carriage, specialist weapon and ammunition racking systems.
