Significant parts of the New Zealand Army’s operational vehicle fleet are being replaced or upgraded over the next decade under the Protected Mobility Capability Project (PMCP). The armoured Pinzgauer fleet has been replaced by a fleet of NZ5.5 Bushmasters.
The PMCP is replacing the New Zealand Defence Force’s (NZDF's) main operational land vehicle fleets, providing New Zealand troops with enhanced protection. This includes both armoured and non-armoured vehicles suited to a wide range of operations.
New Zealand’s service men and women undertake a range of missions, from population protection and support, through to pro-active peacekeeping, and they do so in a range of environments.
To undertake missions, it is a priority that people can be transported quickly and safely using vehicles that provide appropriate protection. A range of vehicles are used to provide this protected mobility that is essential to operational capability. The range varies from lightweight and highly mobile vehicles, to the armoured LAV combat vehicles.
The need for these vehicles is demonstrated through their use over the past two decades, from providing support following earthquakes and other natural events in New Zealand and our region of the Pacific, to providing backup to the New Zealand Police in high risk situations, through to population protection and peacekeeping missions around the world.
The Project is being run in stages over ten years.
Phase One of the project is replacing the capability of the armoured Pinzgauer and operational Unimog fleets with a Protected Vehicle – Medium fleet comprised of 43 Bushmaster NZ5.5 vehicles. Phase One also introduces Polaris MRZR vehicles as the High Mobility – Light fleet.
Current state
Current state
43 Bushmaster vehicles were delivered in 2023. Instructor training for operation and maintenance of the vehicles is being delivered by the vender and will be completed in November 2023.
High Mobility – Light Fleet: final vehicles were delivered in January 2022 and are being tested ahead of Operational Release.
In September 2023, Request for Proposal was released for services related to the design, build and installation of communications and digital systems for the Bushmaster vehicle fleet.
The Request for Proposal sought a Prime System Integrator who can deliver and support the communications and digital systems, from design through to installation, troop training, and equipment disposal. Some systems are being purchased through a separate contract, and will be integrated as part of this process.
