Page 12 - Australian Defence Magazine Sep 2021

12 NEWS REVIEW INDUSTRY UPDATE
SEPTEMBER 2021 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
NZ MOVES ON LIGHT VEHICLE REPLACEMENT
JULIAN KERR | SYDNEY
THE New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is continuing with the steady renewal of its main operational land vehicle fleets, notify- ing industry of its intention to replace the army’s unprotected Pinzgauer Light Opera- tional Vehicles with new utility platforms.
In an ‘advance notice of intended future procurement’ released on 12 July, the NZ Ministry of Defence (MoD) disclosed it is seeking to acquire both medium and light utility vehicles under Phase 1 of its Pro- tected Mobility Capability Project (PMCP).
Phase 1 running from 2018 to 2024 in- volves replacing the capabilities of the 321-strong eight-variant Pinzgauer fleet, and operational Unimogs. Phase 2, running from 2025/2026, will upgrade or replace the 83-strong NZ Light Armoured Vehicle (NZLAV) capability.
The PMCP has already seen the delivery of an undisclosed number of US Polaris MRZR-D 4x4 all-terrain vehicles to re- place quad bikes and other small vehicles, together with a decision in June 2020 to re- place armoured Pinzgauers with 43 Thales NZ 5.5 Bushmaster infantry mobility ve- hicles with delivery starting in late 2022.
The ‘Utility Vehicle-Medium’ (UV-M) is
expected to have a 2-4 tonne payload as well as space for four personnel and their equipment in its basic configuration. Ar- mour protection is optional.
The army will acquire a total of 106 UV-Ms including 30 cargo variants and 30 troop transports, 19 maintenance sup- port variants, 18 command post variants, and nine ambulances.
The ‘Utility Vehicle – Light’ (UV-L) will be an unprotected low-weight vehi- cle providing a 1,400 kg payload as well as seating for a crew of 2-4 and space for stowage. Ninety-nine UV-Ls are required, comprising 64 general service variants
and 35 in the command and liaison role. The MoD said military or commercial off-the-shelf vehicles were desired, with the complete vehicles set to be delivered by a prime contractor that must also be their design authority. The contract would include integrated logistics support and
through-life support arrangements.
A Request for Proposal is expected to be
issued in the fourth quarter of 2021.
ABOVE: A Pinzgauer truck from
1 Royal NZ Infantry Regiment drives onto an Australian Army landing craft at Port Fitzroy, NZ, in 2012.
STUDENTS TO TACKLE DEFENCE AND NATIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES
AUSTRALIAN university students will have the opportunity to apply their fresh ideas and innovative approaches to national secu- rity challenges through a new Defence en- trepreneurship program, D.Start Catalyst.
Defence has partnered with not-for-profit Common Mission Project to establish the
program in several Australian universities. The D.Start Catalyst program will teach students how to apply innovative processes to address Defence and national security
challenges.
The program builds on the success of es-
tablished US and UK programs, as well as a pilot program “Hacking for National Secu- rity” conducted at the UNSW in early 2021.
Chief Science Engagement and Impact Division, Dr David Kershaw, said D.Start Catalyst will encourage student-entre-
LEFT: The D.Start Catalyst program will teach students how to apply innovative processes to address Defence and national security challenges.
preneurs to take on some of the toughest challenges facing Defence, while chang- ing how Defence solves problems.
“D.Start Catalyst will allow us to access fresh talent within Australian universities and tap into the benefits of lean start-up methods, including world-class market re- search, resulting in faster delivery of De- fence capabilities,” Dr Kershaw said.
“The program is also part of Defence’s effort to reach the STEM community and to attract the best and brightest into De- fence and defence industry careers.
“D.Start Catalyst is a key element of the Defence Research Accelerator program, helping to create an understanding of the Defence problem space.”
BEN MULLINS VIA UNSPLASH
DEFENCE