Bushmaster goes on permanent display outside Australian War Memorial

An Australian Army Protected Mobility Vehicle or “Bushmaster” that saw action in Iraq and Afghanistan was installed today for permanent display on the grounds of the Australian War Memorial.

Director of the Memorial Dr Brendan Nelson said he was honoured to have the Bushmaster, manufactured by Thales Australia, displayed on the grounds for visitors to experience and get a sense of the danger Australian soldiers endure while on deployment.

“The Bushmaster is an absolutely critical resource for Australian soldiers on the ground. It is as important to modern-day soldiers as the Iroquois helicopter was to Vietnam servicemen,” he said. 

“No Australian has been killed in a Bushmaster, it is a truly great Australian success story.”  

The all-wheel-drive armoured vehicle was designed and manufactured in Australia. Used daily on patrols in Iraq, Afghanistan and East Timor, its primary role has been providing safe transport for infantry. The basic model can also be configured for command, ambulance, mortar, or assault pioneer roles.

The Bushmaster installed at the Memorial today served in Iraq and Afghanistan before being badly damaged in an engine fire in 2010. It was one of 1,200 built, has a top speed of 100 kilometres per hour and a range of 800 kilometres, and carries a crew of two with an additional eight passengers. It was given to the Memorial by the Australian Army.

“While we honour the service and sacrifice of so many soldiers during the centenary of the First World War, it is important that we reflect on the brave men and women from more contemporary conflicts who continually choose to put themselves in harm’s way to protect us, our freedoms, and our way of life,” said Dr Nelson.

“This installation is a tribute to the Bushmaster’s role in protecting those men and women.”

Bushmasters have proven highly effective in service owing to their advanced design, which includes armoured glass, a V-shaped hull to deflect the blast from mines and improvised explosive devices, and the weapon, armour and counter-measures packages that continue to evolve to meet the changing needs of the battlefield.

Often referred to as “PMVs” (protected mobility vehicles), the Bushmasters have been instrumental in saving hundreds of lives in the Middle East, and deserve the high degree of trust and affection placed in them by Australian servicemen and servicewomen.

The Bushmaster comes to the Memorial in a fully refurbished, condition, less engine and drivetrain, and will be on permanent outdoor display near the Centurion tank at the rear of the main building.