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Thales Group
Bushmaster
An Australian-designed 4x4 mine-protected troop carrier built by Thales Australia, widely combat-proven in Iraq and Afghanistan with the Australian, Dutch, British and other allied forces for its exceptional mine and IED survivability.
In service since 2004 · 8 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
100
km/h
800
km range
7.6
mm gun
14,500
kg
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
National export licensing
Subject to Australia export-control approval; verify eligibility with the manufacturer.
Channel: Direct commercial / G2G
Fielded & proven
Established · 8 operators
In service since 2004. Status: active · ~1,000 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 100 km/h |
|---|---|
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 800 km |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 7.62 mm machine gun (turret-mounted) |
|---|---|
| Caliber Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better, ammunition commonality matters. | 7.6 mm |
Protection
Armor, countermeasures and survivability.
| Armor Armor technology: composite, modular, ERA-fitted, uranium-ceramic. Exact compositions are classified. | Monocoque V-hull steel armor, mine-protected |
|---|---|
| NBC protection Sealed crew compartment with overpressure filtration for nuclear/biological/chemical environments. | Yes |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 7.18 m |
|---|---|
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 14,500 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 2 |
| Troop capacity Number of embarked troops/passengers (IFV, APC, transport). Higher carries more. | 8 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | Caterpillar 3126E turbo-diesel |
|---|---|
| Engine power Engine output power. Higher moves more weight faster. | 300 hp |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Diesel (wheeled 4x4) |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 1,000 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 8 |
Specifications compiled from public Thales Group and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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Head-to-head comparisons
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Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the Thales Group Bushmaster? +
The Thales Group Bushmaster has a maximum speed of 100 km/h.
What is the range of the Thales Group Bushmaster? +
The Thales Group Bushmaster has a maximum range of 800 km.
How much does the Thales Group Bushmaster weigh? +
The Thales Group Bushmaster has a combat weight of 14,500 kg.
How many crew does the Thales Group Bushmaster require? +
The Thales Group Bushmaster requires a crew of 2.
What is the main armament of the Thales Group Bushmaster? +
The Thales Group Bushmaster's primary weapon is the 7.62 mm machine gun (turret-mounted).
What engine does the Thales Group Bushmaster use? +
The Thales Group Bushmaster is powered by the Caterpillar 3126E turbo-diesel.
What is the Thales Group Bushmaster used for? +
The Thales Group Bushmaster is a ifv / apc typically used for infantry combat.
How many countries operate the Thales Group Bushmaster? +
The Thales Group Bushmaster is operated by 8 countries.
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