Bushmaster Export Potential

Thales, The Thales (Australia) designed and manufactured Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle has been proven operationally with both Australian and Dutch forces and maintains great export opportunity for Australia. 
 
Thales is actively marketing the vehicle in several countries including the United States. To date, over 450 Bushmasters in total have been ordered by the Australian and Dutch armed forces. 
 
For the US market, Thales is teamed with a local partner (OSHKOSH Truck Corporation) to provide the expert local presence, critical to any success in this market. 
 
The Thales Bushmaster vehicle offer for the US MRAP Phase 1 Program was not selected due to an evolving requirement, not due to a lack of marketing or lobbying effort. 
 
Thales has achieved significant defence sales in the US notably through Thales Communications Inc. with the JTRS handheld radios used by US special forces in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as successful joint ventures such as Thales Raytheon Systems. Thales maintains sixteen primary US locations and employs nearly 3,000 people in 11 states. In 2006 Thales North America's revenues exceeded USD $ 1 billion. 
 
Thales and OSHKOSH remain confident of future potential sales of Bushmaster under ongoing Phases of MRAP in the US. 
 
Achieving export success in new markets is greatly assisted by the ongoing support, encouragement and commitment of our Government and Offices like the Export Advocate within the Defence Material Organisation. The vehicle would not be the success it is today without the support and ongoing commitment of Government and the ADF.  
 
Thales Australia is a premier provider of systems, products and services in the defence, security and civil markets in Australia and throughout the world. Part of a leading international electronics and systems group serving defence, aerospace and security markets, here in Australia we number 3,500 personnel and generate annual revenues of A$1 billion.