Hawkei PMV-L Thales

4x4 Light Protected Mobility Vehicle Australia

Hawkei PMV L 4x4 light wheeled high mobility protected vehicle Thales Australia Australian army 925 001

Description

The Thales Hawkei is a 4x4 light wheeled protected vehicle built by Thales on its significant experience with the Australian Bushmaster program to design this next-generation vehicle. Drawing on both international and local expertise provided by Boeing, PAC Group or Plasan, and numerous Australian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), the vehicle’s design incorporates world-leading innovative technologies. The Thales Hawkei was designed within the framework of modernization of light wheeled vehicles used by the Australian Army. The Hawkei is currently being submitted for the Australian Department of Defence's LAND 121 Phase 4 program, which will provide a Light Protected Vehicle to replace the Australian Army's Landrover fleet. Following the tradition of the Bushmaster, which is named after a deadly pit viper, the new addition is named after a stealthy species of Death Adder – Acanthophis hawkei – which is native to Australia. The new ground-breaking design meets emerging performance and capability requirements, including systems that allow the Hawkei to become a fully integrated node on the network centric battlefield. The Hawkei is designed to accommodate the future system demands of adaptive campaigning, with C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence) capabilities as a fundamental part of its DNA. An engineering mock-up of the Hawkei will be on display at Armoured Vehicles Australia in November 2009 (AVA), highlighting its internal seating layout and ground-breaking design. In August 2012, Boeing announced that its subsidiary Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) will provide Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) during the next stage of development of Thales Australia's Hawkei Protected Mobility Vehicle - Light prototypes. In October 2015, it was announced that the Australian army will order 1,100 Hawkei vehicles t replace part of the Army's aging Land Rover fleet. It is classified by the Australian Army as light protected mobility vehicle. In January 2018, it was announced that the Australian Army and Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group CASG, in charge of the military acquisition have deployed several new Hawkei 4x4 Light Protected Vehicles to Iraq for operational trials with Task Force Taji, a combined Australian-New Zealand military training force located at the Taji Military Complex northwest of Baghdad. In September 2020, the Australian Department of Defense announced that the Army’s new Australian-designed and built Hawkei 4x4 protected vehicle is ready to enter full-rate production at Thales’ Protected Vehicles facility in Bendigo, Victoria. In September 2020, it was announced that the Hawkei was selected as one of the four candidates for the Pegaz program of the Polish army to acquire 4x4 wheeled armored vehicles. 

Hawkei Thales variants

- Command Post: Dual cab manned by a crew of four to six, weapons system options including up to 12.7mm guns or 40mm grenade systems in various mounts with a remotely operated option.
- Border Protection: Dual cab manned by a crew of four to six, various equipment options including force protection radar, surveillance and communications systems.
- Special Operations Vehicle: Dual cab manned by a crew of four to six with up to three weapon systems. Open-top architecture.
- Utility Cargo: Single-extended cab with a flat-bed cargo area measuring; L: 2,000 mm (79 in) x W: 2,400 mm (94 in). The vehicle is manned by a crew of 2-3 and has a curb weight of 6,800 kg (14,991 lb) with a rated cargo load of 3,000 kg (6,614 lb). The load bed is designed to accommodate four 1000mm × 1200mm (40" x 48") NATO standard military pallets or a single tricon (one-third ISO 20 ft) container.
- Surveillance and Reconnaissance:
- Electronic Warfare:


Technical Data

Armament
The Hawkei 4x4 light protected vehicle can be fitted with a remote-controlled weapon station. The weapon station can accommodate a various range of weapons as 5.56mm, 7.62mm, and 12.7mm machine guns, 40mm automatic grenade launchers, anti-tank missiles, and observation pods.
Design and protection
The layout of the Hawkei 4x4 light protected vehicle is conventional, with the engine at the front, crew and troops compartment in the center, and a large cargo area at the rear. The four doors version has seating for up to 6 military personnel while the 2 doors variant can accommodate 3 people. The Hawkei provides unparalleled situational awareness with two large bulletproof windows at the front and two small windows on each side. It offers high level of lethality and survivability for a vehicle in its category. The Thales Hawkei is a mobile, versatile, and above all well-protected vehicle. It incorporates high levels of blast and ballistic protection in a light, highly maneuverable and readily air-transportable vehicle that has been engineered for peak performance. A systems approach to vehicle protection includes high levels of mine blast protection integrated into the Hawkei’s hull design, while its adaptable ballistic protection technology is designed to be easily removed for air transportation and then refitted by a two-person crew in less than 30 minutes without using specialized equipment. This innovative design allows the Hawkei to be operated in full protection configuration that can then be reconfigured and upgraded for specific mission threats. The blast protection is integrated into the hull and the entire automotive system has been packaged to simplify and optimize the blast management system. This unique and innovative fully integrated approach has allowed Thales and Plasan to provide the Hawkei with the objective blast protection required, even at the helicopter's transportable weight.
Mobility
The Hawkei 4x4 light protected vehicle is motorized with a six-cylinder, 3.2-liter direct injection diesel engine rated at 225 kW, and producing a maximum torque of 680 Nm at 2,000 rpm. The transmission is a six-speed automatic transfer case. A fuel capacity of 250 liters gives a range of more than 1,000 km, reduced to 800 km if towing the two-wheel Hawkei trailer. It can run at a maximum road speed of 115 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 600 km. Hawkei’s side slope capability is 40 percent, with a turning circle of approximately 12 meters curb to curb and an unprepared fording depth of 1,200 mm. The Hawkei suspension and axles are composed of an AxleTech 3000 series fully independent progressive coil spring with double wishbone and outboard planetary reduction hub.
Accessories
The Hawkei 4x4 light protected vehicle is C4I ready with SOTAS IP Smart Platform advanced Vehicle Electronic Architecture. A spare wheel is mounted at the rear of the crew compartment. The vehicle is also equipped with a self-recovery winch which has a capacity of 5,400 kg. The Thales Hawkei can be airlifted by a C-130 Hercules transport or other standard military transport aircraft or helicopter.

Specifications

Armament Armor
Remote-controlled weapon station with 5.56mm, 7.62mm, and 12.7mm machine guns, 40mm automatic grenade launchers, anti-tank missiles, and observation pods. Ballistic armor and mine blast protection
Country users Weight
Australia 7,000 kg
Designer Country Speed
Australia 115 km/h maximum road speed 
Accessories Range
C4I ready, central tire inflation system, cold weather kit, trailer, winch, spare wheel and rear view
camera.
600 km
Crew Dimensions
6 (four doors version) and 3 (two doors version) Length: 6.22 m; Width: 2.39 m; Height: 2.30 m

Details View

 
   
Hawkei PMV L 4x4 light wheeled high mobility protected vehicle Thales Australia Australian army front view 004 Hawkei PMV L 4x4 light wheeled high mobility protected vehicle Thales Australia Australian army rear back view 004
 Hawkei PMV L 4x4 light wheeled high mobility protected vehicle Thales Australia Australian army left side view 004
 Hawkei PMV L 4x4 light wheeled high mobility protected vehicle Thales Australia Australian army right side view 004

Pictures - Video