Australia Sells Bushmaster Armoured Vehicles to the Netherlands Amid $1.2bn Defence Boost

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles announced on Sunday, April 26, 2026, that the Australian government will sell a fleet of Bushmaster armoured vehicles to the Netherlands following a request by the Dutch government.

The sale comes as part of a broader $1.2 billion investment in Australia’s defence capabilities, which includes the procurement of 268 new Bushmaster vehicles and upgrades to the Army’s Hawkei tactical vehicles and other military trucks.

Marles made the announcement alongside Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy in Bendigo, Victoria, where they detailed the agreement at the Thales manufacturing facility.

The Australian-built Bushmaster and Hawkei vehicles are recognised as world-leading protected mobility vehicles, supporting not only the Australian Defence Force but also the defence forces of international partners, according to Marles.

Australia has previously sent more than 100 Bushmaster vehicles to Ukraine, where they have been praised for their effectiveness under heavy fire in the ongoing conflict with Russia.

The Netherlands has an existing fleet of Bushmaster vehicles, and this new purchase builds upon that capability.

The Australian government has not disclosed the number of vehicles being sold to the Netherlands or the financial value of the deal.

The $1.2 billion defence package will support local industry, with hundreds of new Bushmasters to be manufactured in Victoria, sustaining approximately 300 jobs in the region until 2033.

Industry sources indicated that the Thales facility in Bendigo was due to run out of work by September 2026, but the new funding will extend production well into the next decade.

The announcement underscores Australia’s growing role as a supplier of protected mobility vehicles to allied nations, while simultaneously modernising its own armed forces.