Eurosatory 2026: Thales unveils next-generation Bushmaster Mulga utility variant

• Thales Australia has today unveiled the next-generation Bushmaster at the Eurosatory tradeshow in France, officially revealed by Major General Jason Blain, Head of Land Systems, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group for the Australian Defence Forces and Julien Assoun, Vice-President, Vehicles and Tactical Systems, Thales, at a ceremony on the Team Defence Australia stand.
• The unveiling showcased a Bushmaster named 5.6 or Mulga utility variant capable of integrating a range of different sensors, effectors and mission systems to meet contemporary warfighting needs. It is designed for use by global customers, highlighted by the new left-hand drive setup.
• This new Bushmaster 5.6 variant evolves the combat-proven Bushmaster platform into an adaptable battlefield vehicle with enhanced capability, connectivity and survivability ready for modern and future battlefields.

As battlefields become more connected and threats such as drones become ubiquitous, military vehicles need to be capable of meeting multiple mission needs, including detecting threats, sharing information, supporting autonomous systems and integrating new technologies quickly.

The Bushmaster 5.6 has been developed to fulfil this role, rapidly evolving into a highly connected sensor and effector platform ready for the demands of modern and future warfare, by adding powerful offensive capabilities to its traditional defensive role, such as Thales laser guided rockets, for example. With this upgrade, the Bushmaster family will combine its combat-proven protected mobility and agility with offensive capability against new threats.

The Bushmaster, produced in Bendigo, Victoria (Australia), continues to evolve to best serve the needs of its crews and operators, incorporating new front-door access, improved vehicle entry, digital displays and advanced vehicle monitoring systems so to improve usability, sustainment and support in the field.it has been successfully deployed and trusted by armed forces around the world and continues to evolve through ongoing innovation, integration of operational lessons and customer collaboration.

The Bushmaster has built a global reputation for protection, mobility and reliability – this next-generation vehicle demonstrates how the platform continues to evolve in response to changing threats, emerging technologies and customer needs. Already a trusted defender, the Bushmaster 5.6 has been designed to provide greater flexibility for modern missions, particularly in areas like counter drone operations, sensing, communications and electronic warfare.” Julien Assoun, Vice-President Vehicles and Tactical Systems.

About Thales Group

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services helps address several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.

The Group allocates €4.5 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Quantum and Cloud technologies. Thales has more than 85,000 employees in 65 countries. In 2025, the Group generated sales of €22.1 billion.

Recent images of Thales and its Defense, Aerospace and Cyber & Digital activities can be found on the Thales Media Library (https://medialibrary.thalesgroup.com/portals/uotw97dr/THALESMediaLibrary). For any specific requests, please contact the Media Relations team.

About Thales Australia

Thales Australia is an Australian-run company like no other with enduring and unique national security, defence, tech, cyber and manufacturing capabilities that make Australia more secure and allow Thales to be the trusted partner of the nation. As a trusted partner of the Australian Defence Force in the Land, Sea and Air environment, Thales Australia employs over 4,500 people in Australia at 35 sites, and supports over 2,000 jobs along its Australian supply chain.

Recent images of Thales and its activities in the fields of defence, aerospace and cybernetics are available on the Thales media library. For any specific inquiries, please contact the media relations team.