The 3 Contenders for Australia's Land 121 phase 4 procurement.

Thanks to my friend Aussie Digger, I've gotten the scoop on this competition.  Read his comments here, but suffice it to say that the reporting has been "spotty" at best .  Let me simply add that what this is really all about is to allow Australian Defense Companies to bid against the JLTV that the Australians are co-developing with US forces....but more on that below...for now....

The 3 vehicles competing against the JLTV are...the Ocelot,

Hawkei 

and Eagle IV.

My view of this competition is fairly simple.  First lets talk about the Mowag Eagle IV.  It has absolutely no chance in this competition.  Its ballistic protection is fair and relies on spall liners and extra armoring without the benefit of a blast resistant form (read that as it doesn't have a v-hull).  What's surprising is the fact that General Dynamics Australia would offer it at all.  If it becomes a price shootout then all bets are off and the Mowag becomes the front runner.  If its a matter of selecting the most capable vehicle then it doesn't stand a chance.  But as the British comp for the FRES showed us, General Dynamics is willing to take a price hit in order to put a vehicle in production.  And as that competition showed us, occasionally governments will accept the least capable product if its priced right.  We certainly know all about that in the US.

The next vehicle is the Force Protection Ocelot.  I am personally in love with this design.  I think its innovative, sized perfectly and the idea of a skate board design with engine, suspension and wheels being mounted separately is beyond appealing.  I think it could be life saving.  While this is my favorite, I don't know how this vehicle will play with local politics.  Force Protection Europe teamed up with Ricardo to make this offering to the British Military and I don't know if they have an Australian division.  If not then they start at a disadvantage.  A quick Google search didn't reveal a partner in this comp so despite it being I think the best design, it doesn't stand a chance.

Which leaves us with the Thales Hawkei.  Its a clean sheet design, like the Ocelot, but it has the advantage of being the home team.  Thales has been fairly tight lipped when it comes to some of the design features of this beast but it is handsome.  And again it has the home field advantage.

This should be fun to watch.

More Information -- to help clarify some of the misreporting can be found here...another Hat Tip to Aussie Digger for the link.