Australian Army 4x4's & 6x6's

Well after quite a long wait the contract has been signed for the purchase of 1200 G-Wagens (or G-Wagons as they are now called!) This is part of a Press Release today:

“The first vehicles delivered will be the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, the lightweight and light capability segment of Land 121 and will progressively replace the current fleet of Land Rovers some of which have been in service since the 1980s.”

Minister Fitzgibbon said the Government was confident it had the best vehicle for the job.

“Earlier this year we undertook four months of rigorous compliance testing in authentic conditions to ensure the capability of the vehicle matched the requirements of the project,” he said.

Six different types of G-Wagon will be acquired by Land 121 with the majority going to Army units. The range includes: a 4x4 general purpose station wagon, two 4x4 cargo variants, a 6x6 cab chassis variant, a 6x6 dual cab truck, and a specialist 6x6 surveillance and reconnaissance vehicle.

The new military vehicles will feature detachable unit-specific modules designed for tasks including munitions transfer, field ambulances and troop carriers, reducing the need for purpose built vehicles and increasing the logistical flexibility of the fleet.

Congratulations to all at Mercedes-Benz! Maybe it will become easier to get a RHD G-Wagen now!

John