August 24, 2007: The Australian army has bought another 250 Bushmaster armored trucks. These will be the improved models, that include a remotely controlled (from inside the vehicle) machine-gun turret. This has been a very popular feature in other armored vehicles. There are also several improvements in crew protection, and a new cooling system for the drinking water supply

Early models cost about $1.3 million each, but the new order will be a little under a million dollars per vehicle. The Bushmaster is made in Australia and based on a South African design concept, with a V shaped underside, to deflect mine and bomb blast. The 4x4, 15 ton vehicle has a crew of two and carries eight troops in what amounts to an armored box. The vehicle is protected against 12.7mm machine-gun bullets, and bombs and mines containing up to 21 pounds of explosives. The vehicle has a top road speed of 125 kilometers an hour and a max road range of 1,000 kilometers. Lots of bulletproof glass is used, and in the troop compartment, there are firing ports under the windows. The vehicle carries a gun ring, on a hatch near the front of the crew compartment, that can mount a 5.56mm or 7.62mm machine-gun. This is normally replaced by the remote control turret. The vehicle is a comfortable ride. The Australian army already has over 400 Bushmasters, and the vehicles are popular with the troops.