Defence Minister Marise Payne said the project would not only provided Australian troops with improved protection, but it would also sustain at least 170 jobs.

"The fact that it is a lighter vehicle than the traditional Bushmaster, the fact that it has a degree of mobility in very high-risk areas and has a significant degree of blast and ballistic protection for our serving members means that it should be very attractive on the international market," she said.

"We will work closely with Australian defence industry to make the most of those opportunities wherever and whenever we can."

Mr Andrews, who was dumped by Mr Turnbull in a post leadership-coup reshuffle, said in a series of tweets that he was the one who got the approval from cabinet's powerful national security committee for the project.

I was pleased to take the #Hawkei submission to the NSC some months back, at which point it was approved #auspol pic.twitter.com/yZegzN8h5E — Kevin Andrews (@kevinandrewsmp) October 4, 2015

"I was pleased to take the Hawkei submission to the NSC [national security committee] some months back at which point it was approved," Mr Andrews said.

Mr Andrews took a swipe on being dumped from the ministry after the September leadership coup saying it would not assist the "stability of the defence force in Australia and its leadership".

Upgraded protection


The Hawkei weighs seven tonnes and provides upgraded protection from landmines, roadside bombs and gunfire.

It can carry up to six soldiers, achieve a top speed of 110km/h and has a range of more than 1000 kilometres.

The deal, to build about 1000 new blast-proof Hawkei vehicles, will also sustain at least 170 jobs, according to Defence Minister Marise Payne.

The locally developed Hawkei was named as preferred tenderer two years ago after Defence was dissatisfied with earlier vehicles developed in a joint project with the US.

The Bushmaster has been exported to The Netherlands and Britain.

Speaking before the official announcement, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said "big defence contracts" should stay in Australia.

"Ideally they should be built and... the money should be spent in Australia," he said.

"We want make sure that we have the best quality equipment for our service people, but we want to make sure that – all things being equal – the money gets spent in Australia."


Thales Australia chief executive Chris Jenkins described the Hawkei as a "highly capable vehicle which will serve the country well".

"We want to thank the many companies in Australia and overseas [who] have been with us on this long journey and who have played a significant role in shaping the Hawkei and contributing to its success," Mr Jenkins said.

The contract involves the delivery of 1100 vehicles and 1000 trailers with a 3½-year production phase to begin from mid-2017 and the first deliveries to begin towards the end of 2017.

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