Bushmaster MR6 (Multi Role 6) is an improved variant of the Bushmaster infantry mobility vehicle, which has been designed and manufactured by Thales Australia.
The new variant was initially unveiled at the International Armoured Vehicles (IAV) 2018 exhibition in London, UK, in January 2018.
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It is designed to offer improved armour protection, reliability and mobility compared to its predecessor.
The Bushmaster MR6 will be available in 12 configurations, including troop carrier, command vehicle, mortar carrier, maintenance vehicle, ambulance, and counter-IED / EOD or route clearance vehicle.
The upgraded vehicle is being offered for the UK Multi-Role Vehicle Protected (MRVP) programme, which intends to provide future-protected mobility solutions for the British Army.
Thales Australia recently completed the vehicle’s mobility, test and evaluation trials.
Design and features of Bushmaster MR6
The deep V-hull of Bushmaster MR6 is based on a 4×4 wheeled chassis. The vehicle is offered in right-hand driving configuration.
The conventional layout of the vehicle houses the engine compartment at the front, a crew cabin in the centre and a troop / cargo section at the rear.
Its cabin is able to accommodate a driver and a commander, while the rear compartment is capable of housing large volumes of payload or up to ten reconfigurable troop seats depending on the mission requirements.
A large sliding door at the rear provides rapid access to the troop compartment.
The vehicle can carry an additional 2t of payload compared to the basic Bushmaster vehicle.
In the ambulance role, the vehicle accommodates one stretcher with four passengers, or two stretchers with two military medical corps and the required medical kits.
The hull also incorporates roof hatches to enable the occupants to enter or exit the vehicle in case of emergency.
Armament
The new vehicle can be outfitted with an improved remote weapon station (RWS) or roof-mounted manned gun ring.
Weapon options for the RWS include a 30mm cannon and a 40mm automatic grenade launcher, in addition to guided rockets and missiles.
Bushmaster MR6 protection features
The Bushmaster MR6 armoured vehicle’s enhanced protection capabilities offer high levels of ballistic and blast protection for the occupants and driveline components.
Anti-ballistic materials are used in the vehicle armour to provide protection against ballistic armour-piercing projectiles and bullets.
The vehicle’s deep V-hull is optimised for increased protection against land mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
In addition, its onboard rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) armour system protects the troops against RPGs fitted with high-explosive warheads.
The survivability can be further increased with the addition of a firefighting system.
Command and control
The armoured personnel carrier incorporates command and control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) systems, as well as a GVA-compliant integral computing system (ICS), which allows the crew to manage weapon system and sensors.
Engine and mobility of Bushmaster MR6
The Bushmaster MR6 multi-role armoured vehicle is powered by a six-cylinder 330hp engine, which is coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission system comprising six forward gears and one reverse gear.
Its engine is designed to produce less carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions than previous models and is certified to the EURO-3 European standard for air quality.
The vehicle also features an improved heavy duty suspension, which offers smooth drive even in rough terrains.
An anti-lock braking system (ABS) is installed to prevent wheel lock-up and improve control and overall vehicle safety.
Additionally, the MR6’s improved central inflation system is intended to further increase the vehicle’s performance on all road conditions.
The vehicle can attain a speed of more than 100km/h and a maximum range of 800km.
It is also capable of fording a water depth of 1.5m.
The Global Armoured Vehicles and Counter-IED Vehicles Market 2011-2021
This project forms part of our recent analysis and forecasts of the global armoured vehicles and counter-IED vehicles market available from our business information platform Strategic Defence Intelligence.
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