More Bushmasters for Australia.

Australia is getting more Bushmaster.  Story here.

Thales Australia has announced that the Australian Government is to purchase an additional 214 Bushmaster vehicles for the Australian Army. Thales made the announcement on 3 July 2012 in a company statement.

Over 800 Bushmaster vehicles are on order and in-service with the Australian and Netherlands armed forces. Thales called the Australian government’s decision a ‘tremendous expression of confidence’ in the vehicle.
Thales Australia CEO Chris Jenkins commented: ‘Bushmaster vehicles are proving their worth every day in Afghanistan under some of the harshest conditions imaginable. The vehicle’s life-saving design, off road mobility and reliability have made it a mainstay of Australian operations.’

At first blush you would say good for Australia.  They see a need for their MRAPs after the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

But with a second look they appear as confused as the Army and Marine Corps.  They just upgraded their M-113's and also have ASLAVs in service so figuring out exactly how they plan on using these Protected Mobility Vehicles seems to be missing.  They're also looking at the JLTV or Hawkei so we can't expect these vehicles to act as a surrogate for the cargo carrier or utility role either.

Defense spending to prop up the economy or military necessity?  I don't know.