A Request for Interest has been announced today as part of the first stage of a major program to replace the Australian Defence Force fleet of field vehicles and trailers.
Defence Minister Robert Hill said this was a significant project for industry and for Defence, delivering many thousands of vehicles over the next decade at a cost expected to be over one billion dollars.
“The fleet of field vehicles and trailers is the backbone of the ADF's war-fighting support and deployment,” Senator Hill said.
The first stage of the project involves seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified companies to tender for the supply of the vehicles and trailers.
The field vehicle and trailer fleets are used to transport personnel, combat supplies, materiel, replacement combat systems, and to evacuate casualties where necessary. They also serve as platforms and prime movers for command, control, communications, computer and intelligence systems, and weapon systems.
The existing fleet was acquired between 1959 and 1994 and is made up of some 10,000 vehicles with a mix of trucks, trailers and motorcycles.
Senator Hill said that while recent upgrades have proved valuable to the fleet, the replacement program planned under Project Land 121 will equip Defence for the longer term.
“The program will fulfil another commitment in the Government's 2000 Defence White Paper, ensuring that our soldiers continue to get the equipment they need.”
“The intention is to reduce whole of life cost, rationalise vehicle types and numbers, incorporate new road safety and legislative design features and bring together new ideas from industry.”
Industry is being asked to offer alternative financing and replacement options, which may include a strategy to continuously update the fleet in a rolling program.
The replacement fleet will be phased in. It is likely that the high-readiness Townsville based elements of 3rd Brigade along with the RAAF's 382 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron and 2 Air Field Defence Squadron located at Amberley will be the first to be supplied. The follow-on phase will continue and complete the replacement of the entire fleet.
Project plans have been released under an Invitation to Register Interest that will remain open until Wednesday 5th November 2003. In addition, an industry briefing will be held in Townsville on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th October 2003.
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Request For Interest Announced For ADF Vehicle Fleet
