Soldiers from C Company 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles (1RGR) using Australian Defence Force Bushmaster protected mobility vehicle. Credit: UK MoD/Crown copyright

Thales will pitch its Bushmaster 5.5 protected mobility vehicle for the British Army’s Land Protected Mobility (Medium) requirement, which will replace medium weight in-service platforms such as the Mastiff.

Part of the wider Land Mobility Programme, the ‘Medium’ requirement could be for around 2,000 vehicles weighing up to 20,000kg able to carry a British Army infantry section and equipment, with the Bushmaster fitting neatly in this category.

In addition, due to its earlier participation in the MRV-P programme, which was cancelled in 2021, the Bushmaster has already gone through many of the applicability and qualification tests necessary for the LPM (Medium) bid.

This will speed up Thales’ submission, in theory enabling it to meet tight delivery timelines that the Medium programme will likely require of industry.

The Bushmaster 5.5 is the latest iteration of the Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles, and will be pitched to an upcoming UK requirement. Credit: Author

It was reported by Army Technology in 2024 that the Medium Protected Mobility effort is expected to have a minimum deployable capability within the next five years, around the 2029-2030 timeframe.

However, a sped-up delivery programme could see a Medium LPM vehicle reach an IOC around 2027, ahead of introduction at the Brigade Combat Team level around 2028.

The Bushmaster 5.5 was displayed at DefenceIQ’s International Armoured Vehicle exhibition and conference in January 2025, the first time the platforms had been displayed at a UK event.

Thales’ Bushmaster protected mobility vehicle

First developed for use by the Australian Army in the mid-2000s, the Bushmaster series of protected 4×4 vehicles has since secured sales into eight further countries, including the UK and Ukraine. In 2013 the 1,000th Bushmaster was delivered to the Australian Defence Force.

GlobalData’s project entry for Thales’ Bushmaster states that the platform is available in a range of variants, including troop transport, ambulance, direct fire, mortar, engineer, and command for application in combat and combat support roles.

The Bushmaster 5.5 benefits from run-flat tires, negating the need for a spare wheel, with a maximum speed of 100km/h and range of up to 800km.

External modules can be fitted, including sensors, a crewed gun ring, or Remote Weapon Station able to operate 7.62mm and 12.7mm machine guns, 40mm automatic grenade launchers, a 30mm cannon, or guided rockets.