Bushmaster protected mobility vehicle evolves after successful tests of dedrone counter-drone capability

Thales Australia’s iconic and combat-proven Bushmaster will become even safer and more capable following the successful integration of an advanced counter-drone capability, Dedrone by Axon, enhancing its ability to repel drone attacks while in motion.

Together, Thales and Dedrone by Axon will bring new levels of on-the-move (OTM) protection to the global defence market, with the integration able to be retro-fitted onto protected mobility vehicles. This cutting-edge technology significantly boosts the Bushmaster’s operational agility, providing the ability to detect, track and neutralise small, medium and large hostile drones, even while the vehicle is in motion.

Dedrone by Axon’s C-UAS solutions are implemented across 33 countries and is used by six of the G-7 nation governments; 926 sites, including 53 airports and 64 stadiums; 17 US federal entities and 30 non-US governments.

Thales Australia has manufactured more than 1300 Bushmaster PMVs – most utilised by the Australian Defence Force – for over 20 years. While it continues to faithfully serve the ADF, the Bendigo-made Bushmaster is also in service with the armed forces of eight allied nations including the UK, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Ukraine.

The vehicle earned the trust of Australian troops in Middle Eastern conflicts, preventing any passenger or driver deaths through Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks.

The Bushmaster is consistently proving itself in Ukraine, with Ukrainian armed forces reporting superior performance, including robust armour, effective thermal vision systems and weapon stations performing capably in combat.