Australia to purchase 2,700 protected and unprotected vehicles for Australian Armed Forces 1305134.

Acquired as part of LAND 121 Phase 3B, the new vehicles, trailers and associated modules will replace the army's ageing Unimog, Mack and S-Liner truck fleet, which provide support and sustainment to Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel during combat operations.

Scheduled to be supplied by Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Australia and Haulmark Trailers Australia, subject to completion of all final issues and formal government approval processes, the vehicles and trailers will be primarily used for personnel and equipment transport missions.

The self-loading trucks will also be used in support of humanitarian assistance, and casualty evacuation operations.

Equipped with advanced safety characteristics, improved force protection, greater payload, the vehicles will also bring commonality across the fleet, ensuring enhanced efficiency in operator training and simplification of logistic support to land forces.

The proposal for acquisition of vehicles and trailers is set to be submitted by the ADF for the government's consideration in the middle of this year.

Work for the contractors will include development of trailers, installation of domestically-supplied modules and parts, vehicle integration and testing, as well as maintenance and through-life support for the vehicles.

Under the LAND 121 Phase 5B project, forces will receive 1,000 vehicles to form the medium and heavy fleet.

These are in addition to the previously approved LAND 121 Phase 3A, which seeks to purchase 2150 unprotected Mercedes Benz G-Wagon 4×4 and 6×6 vehicles and trailers for replacement of the ADF's current light unprotected field vehicles and trailers fleet.

To date, around 600 vehicles and 350 trailers have been handed over to the army and air force, while remaining vehicles are set for delivery by 2016.