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Australia has sold 10 refurbished Thales Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles to Fiji to support their United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions in the Golan Heights and Syria.
Minister for Defence Marise Payne announced on 9 February that the sale is another example of Australia and Fiji's strong relationship and that the vehicles will be used to protect UN observers.
"Fiji will use the vehicles to form part of the force protection mix that protects UN observers in the Golan Heights and Syria, which includes Australian Defence Force personnel," said Minister Payne.
"The sale of the Bushmasters is a significant milestone in Defence co-operation between Australia and Fiji.
"Australia and Fiji have a long and proud history of peacekeeping.
"Enhancing peacekeeping co-operation with Fiji reflects the strength of the relationship and underscores the importance of working with partners in the region."
Seven of the Bushmasters will be deployed to the Golan Heights and Syria, while the remaining three will be transported to Fiji for pre-deployment training by mid-2017, according to Minister Payne's statement.
The refurbished vehicles will be overhauled, serviced, inspected and repainted to ensure they are fully operational, and reconfigured to meet Fiji's specific requirements.
The Bushmaster vehicles are produced by Thales Australia and have been in operation since 1997 for the Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Netherlands Army, British Army and the Jamaica Defence Force.
The vehicles are lightly armoured and provide protected mobility transport for infantry dismounting from the vehicle before going into action.
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