Australian Army Discussions and Updates

old faithful

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Nope. The RSV variant of the g wagon make an excellent peacetime vehicle that will never be deployed beyond our shores to anything more intense than a regional presence mission.
Sure, but the discussion at one point suggested that hawkei was the replacment for the landrover, which the g wagon really is. The hawkei is a new capability.....that still needs a tweak or 2.
 

Richo99

Active Member
Sure, but the discussion at one point suggested that hawkei was the replacment for the landrover, which the g wagon really is. The hawkei is a new capability.....that still needs a tweak or 2.
My understanding was that the g-wagon and the hawkei were BOTH replacements for the land rover... the former for domestic duties and the latter for deployment
 

Takao

The Bunker Group
My understanding was that the g-wagon and the hawkei were BOTH replacements for the land rover... the former for domestic duties and the latter for deployment
Exactly

The G-Wagon was purchased for domestic training only, never to be deployed (because of its poor protection). This reduced the numbers needed for a Hawkei fleet (and hence costs). The Hawkei would only be to deploy. Quite honestly, other than protection, I'd take a G-Wagon every time (if only because I can have a spare tyre without a trailer - I mean, really? An off-road vehicle that needs a trailer to carry a spare? Pshaw). At least the G-Wagon has brakes that always work, good internal space, a body that I can crawl over, and (while eye-wateringly expensive compared to what Mr Takao can buy at the local Mercedes dealership) is much, much more cheaper and cost effective than a Hawkei.

Remember, the Hawkei was conceived when we were planning on fighting some lightly armed and poorly trained insurgents in the MEAO. Not Pacific Islands, not the PLA, not the post-23 DSR Army.
 

ADMk2

Just a bloke
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
TWZ article below on ADF acquisition of the AIM-260 JATM. Interestingly it mentions ground launched effects in ADF’s layered IAMDS…

With the same form factor as AMRAAM, I wonder if we’ll see any interest in adapting the weapon to the NASAMS SAM system? Could possibly account for Army’s lack of interest in adapting AMRAAM-D models for NASAM’s use…

Would substantially enhance the range and capability if the system…

 

seaspear

Well-Known Member
Re earlier post on electric drive for noise suppression ,Would sound proofing materials be an option in engine bay walls and under hood ? another query is there any use of special paint for masking of thermal signatures a consideration ,obviously drones now carry thermal cameras and can detect heat signatures at night ,I recall many years ago the navy introduced such to decks of ships that reduced surface temperature of the steel decks during the day
 

SammyC

Well-Known Member
Re earlier post on electric drive for noise suppression ,Would sound proofing materials be an option in engine bay walls and under hood ? another query is there any use of special paint for masking of thermal signatures a consideration ,obviously drones now carry thermal cameras and can detect heat signatures at night ,I recall many years ago the navy introduced such to decks of ships that reduced surface temperature of the steel decks during the day
I've used insulating paint in civilian applications. For instance we coated a large tank containing water at about 120 deg with insulating paint, and it dropped the surface temperature down to about 45 deg. Enough that it replaced traditional fibre insulation and was safe for the human touch.

The downside is that it is thick and heavy. Great for a stationary object, but you would want to be very thrifty with its use on something flying or floating.

I suspect there are some military grade paints that are much lighter, but the cost goes up. At some point this negates the benefit of a cheap mass produced drone.
 

seaspear

Well-Known Member
I've used insulating paint in civilian applications. For instance we coated a large tank containing water at about 120 deg with insulating paint, and it dropped the surface temperature down to about 45 deg. Enough that it replaced traditional fibre insulation and was safe for the human touch.

The downside is that it is thick and heavy. Great for a stationary object, but you would want to be very thrifty with its use on something flying or floating.

I suspect there are some military grade paints that are much lighter, but the cost goes up. At some point this negates the benefit of a cheap mass produced drone.
I meant for the paint to be used on the vehicles themselvesto avoid attention from such drones that hunt at night with thermal cameras, recently on a Ukrainian video it showed a drone laying in wait behind a wall it had a sensor that the operator was able to hear a vehicle coming before attacking the Ukrainian vehicle , this was likely posted by Russians and reposted by the Ukrainians ,certainly listening to a similar thread that an ex mortar operaror was retrained to operate drones instead might suggest which method of warfare is more effective , It would be easy to believe that entire assumptions on how conflicts by the A.D.F would happen and programs to operate in such scenarios which appear rapidly evolving may said assumptions to be tossed out of the window and back to drawing board
 

koxinga

Well-Known Member

The Australian Army officially brought its first protected mobile fires battery into service during a parade at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville, on 31 July 2026 [officially reported on 12 August].

The parade marked the formal introduction of the AS9 Huntsman self-propelled howitzer capability to Army’s 3rd Brigade.

Soldiers from 106 Battery, 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, recently completed Australia’s inaugural AS9 operator training at the School of Artillery in Puckapunyal, Victoria, before returning to Townsville to form the new battery.

Commader 1st Division Major General Ash Collingburn said the parade marked one of the most significant advances in Army’s artillery capability in generations.
....snip....
 

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